Mathieu van der Poel skips recon of decisive Olympic Games climb over controversial rule

The Olympic Games road race will take place tomorrow for the men and World Champion Mathieu van der Poel will only discover the final circuit when he is at the race. The Dutch team are staying just outside of Paris in order to avoid the confusion and danger of training within the Olympic city, but the leader of the Dutch team has skipped the recon of the main climb because there was a speed limit imposed.

The 274-race will finish with a two-lap circuit in the heart of Paris, with three ascents of the short cobbled ascent to the Còte de la Butte-Montmartre, which is 1.1 kilometers long at 5.6% average gradient. Most riders have been exploring the course in recent days, learning the ins and outs of the final circuit.

Not Mathieu van der Poel. Why? Because the race organizers have dictated a 30Km/h speed limit up the climb. An unusual rule, but just as unusual is van der Poel decision not to explore it because of this restriction.

"I don't see the point of doing it like this, we will tackle the Montmartre climb several times in the race and I will see it directly there," van der Poel admitted to BiciSport. This shouldn't however be a decision that will harm his chances of success in the key race.