"There are a few countries that we really can’t let ride away" - Daan Hoole will be entrusted with controlling early phases of the Olympic road race

While countries of favourites like Belgium, Denmark and France will have four riders at the start of the men's Olympic road race, the Netherlands will only be riding with three riders. This puts a lot of pressure on the shoulders of Daan Hoole,

"There are a few countries that we really can’t let ride away," Hoole said to WielerFlits. "But a country like Denmark can't let Belgium go either. You have to make use of that a little bit. It's going to be a difficult start. I really have to work hard in the first few hours. Hopefully not too much, because then we'll have a good situation."

His main task will be to control the race for as long as possible so that Mathieu van der Poel can fight for victory under the Montmartre on Saturday. "There are fewer climbs there and it is on larger roads. But it depends on how the race is going to be. If it is going to be two hours of attacking and reacting, it will automatically be tough, on any course. We have to wait and see how the race will go, but I think we are ready for that.”

These are Hoole's first Games. How special is it to be here? "Very special. We went to the Olympic village once last week. Then you see the other athletes and what a huge event it is. That is special. It is different from a Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix, it is super big. That is very nice to experience."