Day 1 BBC One: 12.10-18.00 Olympics

For the very first time, South America welcomes the world for the

28th summer Olympic Games. The film director for and no -- Fernando

Meirelles has said that London was smart, this is going to be cool. Now

we go to the beginning, to the birth of life itself. Just add water!

These are very clever projections. I can assure you that the stadium

floor remains totally flat, despite what you are seeing!

We've taken a few liberties here. Only flying for 60 metres but who

cares, just admire the view. The girl from it is Giselle. -- the girl

from Ipanema. The stadium floor resembles a lava lamp. And here they

are, here he is. Holding with his left arm, which is sensible, Andy

Murray leading out Great Britain. These athletes represent the 65

million displaced people around the world from war-torn areas. They are

very welcome indeed. The stadium now erupts because into the Maracana,

please welcome Brazil. And the mirrors are opened to reveal lush

vegetation. Underlying the ceremony's core theme, the future is

bright if it's green. So, the Olympics are underway again. The

torch, good luck Rio and good luck to the youth of the world. A fitting

welcome to the Games of Rio de Janeiro. The stunning finale to last

night's classy and elegant and rather cool opening ceremony. Framed

in breathtaking style by that sculpture. The flame left the

Maracana Erbil it in another cauldron on the Olympic Boulevard in

the centre of the City for the carrier gas. This is wind powered

for the duration of the Games. But we are fuelled by the sunshine. Good

morning. It is only 0810 here, it has been a long night, but the smile

is shining on us, as it normally does on Copacabana beach, the most

famous beach in the world. This is the backdrop for us for the next 16

days as we started they one in earnest of these 28th Olympic Games.

We are ready, I hope you are too. 12 gold medals to be won today. Let's

do this! From the Boulevard to the beach, the Tour de France winner

Chris Froome leads the field in the men's road race, but it is a tough

race around Rio's mountain. And after almost a century after the 11

man game featured at the Olympics, it will be sevens making its debut

with some of Great Britain's women. And one of the most picturesque

women's for our most successful sport in recent years, Katherine

Grainger is in her fifth Games and the like colour, with a new partner,

Vicky Thornley. Katherine Grainger is the defending champion. This is

our schedule over the next six hours. We have roaring shortly, we

will see Alan Campbell in the single sculls. From Northern Ireland, he

will become the most decorated athlete in terms of appearances, his

fourth Games. The road race, the start of it and then we are

concentrating on even more from like our -- from Lagoa. As the rugby

sevens, Great Britain's women have Brazil this morning and later denied

against Japan. The key moments of the day, there were 12 gold medals

on offer and some of them are on this board here. The defending

champion, the first winner of a medal in the London Games, could be

doing the same in Rio. In terms of swimming we have James Guy looking

to add an Olympic medal to his burgeoning collection in the men's

400 metres final. The final is at 2am, UK time, tomorrow. It is

confusing but we'll get to grips with it. Adam Peaty of course the

three-time world champion, in the heats for the 100 metre Bristow,

trying to do what Adrian Moorhouse lasted for Britain 20 years ago --

breaststroke. Sarah Menzies in the women's judo title, in the running

for a second gold medal. We've already started the Olympic action

an officially on Wednesday and Thursday with some of the football

matches but this is really day one when the events start in earnest.

One of the key races in the road race, the road race, the road

cycling start this morning. Four years ago we had so Bradley Wiggins

who was in the time trial after winning the Tour de France, which

was a fantastic double. Chris Froome is trying to go just one place even

better than him. Having already won a third Tour de France in the summer

he will be going in the time trial. Today, part two of a possible treble

in the road race. Britain's first two time winner.

What a Tour de France this has been the Great Britain. The last week

after the Tour has been a bit of a moment. Certainly right now the

focus is on the road race. With the team that we've got here, the suit

-- between the five of us, we will try to cover most of the bases. We

don't have a set plan, we aren't already a one guy, it is seeing how

the race evolves and covering the different scenarios that may arise.

Not going to be a leader writer? We have different scenarios we can play

with. Steve Cummings, he's won a lot of races this year from breakaways.

It would be a good idea to think about a good moment to put him in

the break. Geraint Thomas will be going well. A competitive team. We

all stand a chance of getting a result. How does the dynamic work

because you would let Steve go maybe if he got into a breakaway and he

could get the gold medal. That means that you miss out. It is a strange

dynamic. It would be the dream scenario. Having been brought up in

road cycling, it's difficult for people to understand from the

outside, but that would be a massive victory for us if Steve won from a

breakaway like that. But it is only one medal, it isn't 18 medal. Still,

it would be a huge honour -- a team medal. Even if he won the muddle it

would be amazing to be a part of it. It is a very hilly course, which

suits a lot of guys on the test team. Yes, very, it is over 200

kilometres, it is long. Hopefully the stages of the Tour de France

will help us to prepare. It looks like it is going to be a more sedate

race, -- more select race, it looks like a race for the climbers,

especially one day racing. A lot of specialist climbers. It is going to

be a bit of a gamble, a lottery, how the race unfolds. Several leading

riders have avoided this because it is very hilly. What about the

British team? Jill Douglas is in the sunshine and you are in very good

company. Yes, Chris Boardman is alongside me,

also a British champion. He will be with us for the commentary. We spent

yesterday out on the course, just taking a really close look at what

is clearly a very, very tough route. You said that you think this is that

hardest race you have seen. I researched when the last time the

road race was this hard and I went back to Mexico in the late 60s and

then stopped, this is the hardest I've ever seen and can find.

Absolutely brutal, especially the finishing circuit, which is two four

kilometre climbs with a small descent in the middle which is going

to put the race in pieces. Not just the climb, the descent after it, six

kilometres under the Jungle canopy under the shade, treacherous and use

the word ad buys ugly. There is a half a foot drop off -- use the word

ad buys ugly -- with caution. Chris Froome has an eye on the time trial

but he has had an epic two weeks, a couple of weeks ago he was in

France, then in London and now he is in Copacabana beach. The team are

going to write for individuals rather than particular with a plan

-- right. -- ride. I hope so, they road as a team with Mark Cavendish

but they had eight guys, but this is only five people and you can't

control the race. That was the mistake that was made in London, it

was all for one person and everybody else knew he was the best. Here you

have fantastic individuals, Stephen Cummings can go for a long time,

Thomas can climb and descend and Chris Froome can climb and he'll be

there at the end. He needs to get away. The problem is in decline and

the descent, it is the 20 kilometres back to the finish line. It has to

be a small group, meaning you have to be able to do those things and

Sprint. Really stellar line-up when you look at the start list here. The

race. In about one hour's time. Looking forward to it, and it is

lovely to see you smiling on the beach. We are going to stay in the

saddle for the equestrian events because they will start, it is the

three-day event to start. Two days after Sarge to complete before we go

to the cross country and then the show-jumping element. Going for

Great Britain, William Fox-Pitt in his fifth Games, which is a

wonderful achievement in itself. Two silvers and a bronze in his career

but even more remarkable when you consider that he suffered a serious

fall and head injury only last October. What a relief and joy to

see him in Brazil. COMMENTATOR: Silver medallist, Great Britain.

Cheers are running around -- ring around Greenwich Park. William

Fox-Pitt is making steady progress in his recovery. He was placed in a

coma after falling at the world force Championships. When you had

the fall, at what stage did you become aware of what happened? I

think the entire time I was in France, I was there for a couple of

weeks, I have no recollection of being there. I wasn't allowed home

because they were checking I was safe. I was angry that I wasn't

allowed home. All the tests I did, passing them was important to me and

when I was at home with my children and Alice at home, that was a big

deal. Has she been 100% behind the drive to get to Rio? She seems to

have known how important it is to you. I think she's been very

supportive of me. In the beginning, we all wondered, will I carry on?

I've been doing it for years, I've had fun and I'm lucky not to have

fallen but the Rio thing was a part of my rehab, it got me back in the

saddle again and got me pushing for it. Physically, there is nothing

different about you. I am skinnier. As tall as ever, which is why we

made you sit down! In your head, do you think you are there? I really

do. If Violet back to it, it happened in October, I thought I had

ages -- if I look back to it. Suddenly we are in July, thinking my

goodness, only just enough time and I feel great. We are ready.

White you think he is almost the perfect event horse? He is a special

all-rounder. Eventing is three disciplines and he is a horse that

has nailed all three. I enjoy riding him every time. I shall be really

sad because potentially this could be his last event, he is 16 years

old. Rio could be it, couldn't it? He has got it all to look forward

to, just wives! It is crucial you know each other so well. I am lucky,

I have had him since he was 12 and he is 16. He has been a great part

of my life and given me great confidence to get back and riding

again. He rather took me on board as a bit of a geriatric and was very

gentle with me and I think he knew I was a bit erratic. Jumping him, it

was hit and miss, but he did not care, it was like, come with me. He

likes the attention. He loves people. He really likes being in

love and being patted. -- being loved. It would be a fairy tale to

come back and win the gold medal. It would. If I ride him well and don't

let him down, I could be up there. Since my accident, it has hit home.

Every day you are lucky. I have been so lucky. France was unlucky, but

still I am very lucky. The fact he is good, I am here, we are going to

Rio in a few days. It is a real dream. We are very lucky. Any

medals, anything else is a bonus and is not expected, but we will have a

dam good go. As he always does. I know Lee

McKenzie at the Equestrian Centre is looking forward to the start of the

event and to seeing William and the team in action. It will be wonderful

to see him riding once again in a fifth Games. How reassuring is it

that his presence is assured for that eventing team, he has been such

a feature of it. William Fox-Pitt is synonymous with the British team. I

have spoken to him several times and he seems on good form, he was riding

Chilli on the gallops. Wonderful facilities at the Deodoro here

outside Rio. He has been through so much in the last 12 months to be

here. It is a huge achievement. We have real experience in this team,

but there are new names, relatively speaking, that perhaps people will

not recognise. We were supposed to have three Olympic debutant. Pippa

Funnell was the reserve. Issy is back in the UK. We have Gemma

Tattersall and what an incredible 12 months she has had. She seems to be

so consistent. Just one year since her first senior call-up. And we

have Kitty King, the first athlete to represent Great Britain at every

age range eventing has and she is a tough competitor, the highest placed

Brit at the European Championships and comes from a competitive family

with one sister playing rugby for England and another being a

heptathlete and she got injured and went on the programme Gladiators as

a gladiator. Don't mess with her! 2012 was memorable, with the

show-jumping gold medal and dressage and Charlotte Dujardin, a chance to

make history. Along with Laura Trott in the cycling, she is bidding to be

the first woman to win three Olympic gold medals, it could be more.

Charlotte, what else is there to say, we seem to know everything

about her. They have gone from strength to strength since London

and she was the first person to hold Olympic, world and European titles,

breaking every world record. She is joined in the team along with Carl

Hester, such a huge part of the team, competing and also training

the others. He is a part owner of her mount. The stories are endless

when it comes to dressage. We are looking forward to hearing

more from you in the coming days and weeks. We will catch up with you

shortly. Now, we will concentrate on an

established sport, about 100 years ago, rugby union, but has not

appeared since 1920. -- 19 24. This is rugby sevens, born in the

Scottish Borders, making its Olympic debut and sure to be popular if the

debut at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow is anything to go by. A man

who knows how to win major prizes is Sir Clive Woodward. There he is.

Tell us how exciting a day it is for rugby. A hugely exciting day. The

last time in the Olympics it was the 15 aside game and men only. This is

a huge day, we hope it will show sevens in its best light as an

athletic, performance-based sport. The women's tournament starts today

with wonderful teams. When you go through the biographies of the

players, so many have switched to take up this because it is in the

Olympics. It is very hot, it will be a tough day, but a fantastic

opportunity for everyone involved in the sport. The captain, Emily

Scarratt, checking my notes! Against Brazil and Japan. So many chances

for the women and in the men's team, good chances. The men's team

dominated by the prospect of a Fijian medal. Sonny Bill Williams

for New Zealand, really good names and great quality in the field. CG

especially because they have never won analytic medal -- Fiji -- an

Olympic medal. Going into the Olympic Village the distractions are

huge. They are favourites. The men's tournament stacks up well. Team GB

are ranked fourth, about right, and the programmes of New Zealand and

Fiji in the men's event are as good as you can get. Huge pressure on

Fiji. In the women's sides, Australia and New Zealand are hot

favourites. Team GB ranked fourth, but they can win and they have had

big wins against Australia and New Zealand and in both tournaments they

are well placed and have a really good chance. You mentioned the hot

favourites, it is hot today and will be even hotter. This is a lung

busting game. To what extent will the climate to be a factor? The

reason it will be a great game is it is so athletic, anaerobic sport. The

Fijians have spent time on the sand dunes, getting the aerobic fitness

up. It is 8:30am and it is hot already. By the time it kicks off,

11am, it will be really hot. Conditioning will be important.

Seven minutes each way, when you are running and running, the fittest

team will come through. A big test. We have known about it for six

years, so no excuse for the teams not to be up to the fitness. Heat

will be a factor but that is where fitness will come through stronger.

Excited for rugby. A massive day and I wish everyone the best. It will be

hot. Wear a hat. I have my factor 50 on already!

The sevens will be a highlight here in Brazil and Rio, but there are

many ways to enjoy all 28 sports on the BBC.

To help you make more of your Olympic Games from boxing to

badminton, hockey to handball, we have got it covered right here on

the BBC. Alongside coverage on BBC One, BBC Four and Radio 5 Live Extra

can access up to 24 sports on the website and on the app, connected

TVs and games consoles. The best will be available on the Red Button,

through satellite, cable, free view, depending on your setup. And you can

download the BBC's sports app. So you can follow your favourite

sports. If you are sticking with us we can take you straightaway to one

of the most spectacular venues in Rio. The rowing venue. Known by the

locals as Lagoa. Great Britain has won gold medals in rowing since LA.

There was a Golden Globe at Eton Dorney four years ago. I wonder what

the next fortnight will bring. John Inverdale and a certain five-time

gold medallist with you, looking forward to it, I am sure.

Absolutely. There is only so much you can do with a swimming pool and

athletics track but over the years we have got used to spectacular

venues for rowing. From the world Championships, to Slovenia, but this

takes it to a new level. A fantastic backdrop. Watching training, I am

not sure the crews will like it as much. It looks flat, but certainly

movement in the water and a lot of the cruise were not looking as sharp

as they should be. In terms of the heats, the nature of rowing, it is

expensive and not every country that takes part is funded to the extent

of Great Britain. In the heats there are a lot of haves against have

nots. Singles sculls is how we get the quota of countries up and you

will see a big difference in races. Alan Campbell coming down in a

couple of heats. The people in his heat, if he is not ahead of that,

there is something seriously wrong. You have to be in it to win it and

today you have to be the first three. How optimistic are you that

the Great Britain team can if not replicate, at least get close to

what they achieved in London? Reasonably. They have not had a

brilliant season, the top boats have performed well and the top two you

almost have a guarantee they will win a gold medal. There is another,

the men's eight, I think will take a gold medal and one other can

possibly take a gold medal. None of them rowing today. Six boats today.

James Cracknell says there will be five medals. We will wait and see.

When you were in Barcelona, which was defined by the diving board,

these Games could be defined by this image, so how proud does it make you

that this is perhaps the defining image people will recall? It is nice

to have the iconic vision. The reality is that it is what you are

dealt with and we are dealt good cards this time. We will focus on

three singles sculls. The first will feature Mahe Drysdale, from New

Zealand, the reigning champion, who had a chequered career, going to

Beijing as favourite but he was ill, he was the flag carrier for New

Zealand in that opening ceremony, and he finished third and literally

staggered over the line. He could barely make it to the finish that

four years later he went two better and became Olympic champion. We will

talk a lot about Great Britain, but we will look at a lot of New Zealand

rowers. They are a considerable force. We sought to dominate the

bigger boats and they dominate the smaller. The Kiwi pair, unbeaten for

I don't know how many years. But some really strong Kiwi crews. Mahe

Drysdale is Elaine four. There is an athlete from Venezuela. There was an

athlete from Vanuatu, the first from that tiny Southsea Island. If you

wonder why Mahe Drysdale is called that, I am sure Gary can tell you.

Fantastic handover, my guess is that it is because he is a Kiwi and it is

a very popular name in New Zealand and also because when his parents

named him, I'm making this up, they knew that he was going to be an

Olympic champion and he needed a strong name like Mahe. This is the

second heat at the Lagoa. Always a pleasure to watch him but so much

going on. Down at the start, we are under

starter 's orders. As the green light goes, the buzzer has them

away, Mahe Drysdale is the defending champion and he opens up his

account. In lane six, Mohammed Al-Khafaji from Iraq also makes up a

bit of Olympic history, the first Iraqi to qualify in the men's single

sculls. This is what the Olympics is also about, not just the big names

at the top of the podium, the little human interest stories going on. We

wish Mohammed Al-Khafaji all the best. He is up in there. He has had

a good first 200 metres as they come up towards the 250 metres mark. Mahe

Drysdale was slow in the first hundred. He doesn't blast off, he is

a strong guy and the power comes on as he goes further down the course.

He will know that that he is the marked man in this.

We have 32 competitors in this event, 22 making their Olympic

debut, all of them chasing Drysdale. The world champion and record holder

and the defending Olympic champion. It is a seeded heat, he should be

winning easily but he has been Rogan previously. This is a big race --

been broken. Setting out his stall again as being the man to beat. 500

metres gone in the second heat of the Olympic Games. No clear

surprises, Mahe Drysdale is opening out from the Hungarian, Jhonatan

Esquivel. You very rarely get roaring venues like this which are

in the heart of it all. Fantastic scenery to the left. We are in the

shadow of Christ the Redeemer, looking down. A spectacular regatta.

What Drysdale will be doing now, similar to the track and field, the

400 metres, when they get breathing under control, they have the heats,

quarters, the semi and the final. Every bit of energy that they can

save in the heats, quarters and semis is going to pay dividends in

the final. First they will wrap up the race, get the best draw and then

just win, expending ethical energy as possible. Right now, Drysdale

will be enjoying Christ the Redeemer. Just horse remaining --

two remaining to qualify. Looking back on lane number five, Leon

Garcia from Peru. Also making his Olympic debut here. Brazil didn't

take up its allocating position. You have Baru, Uruguay and Hungary, all

fighting out now for the two spots that will take them through -- Peru.

Drysdale has gone, that was expected. For him, it's all about

getting rid of the cobwebs, if that's the right way to say it,

he'll just be tapering off over the last week here. He will be eager to

get the first heat out of the way. Beautiful shot, wonderful technique.

The overhead camera. Yes, still giving himself a good work-out. He

isn't flat out but he's just pressing the race rhythm that he

will need. The gap may look big but New Zealand is one of the

powerhouses, whereas Iraq, Peru, Uruguay are not. Whereas if it was

football, possibly Uruguay beating New Zealand and if it were rugby,

New Zealand would be in a similar position to Mahe Drysdale. Tougher

battles to come which is why he's using this race to set them up for

the week. A good opener for him and there may have been some frustration

or doubts after being beaten at Henley, he can lay any doubts to

rest. The Hungarian, Petervari-Molnar, having the better

of Esquivel, who is pulling away from Leon Garcia in five. Out front,

looking back at this, still pushing on. The little blue box at his feet

is a little on-board computer, calculating the race, the time and

speed. Meticulous in terms of tracking all of his racing. The

times and everything. He'll immediately look down and stop the

time. That's how much sport has moved on, in our day it was that,

the timing and number of strokes per minute, but now it will have GPS. It

will have speed and he can look down and see what changes he makes

technically to make the boat go faster. That's what he'll be doing

now because he has this race under control. He'll be testing out little

things and making sure he's fine tuning the engine for the races to

come. Between the best in the world, the defending Olympic champion, Mahe

Drysdale, 37 years of age, when in past nine and Lucerne this year --

winner in Posdan. There is a big gap between them as a head-to-head but

more as we progress through the heats. Alan Campbell is coming down

later on. It is a fight to the line between Uruguay, Esquivel, in number

three, and Petervari-Molnar from Hungary in lane two. Just powering

down now, easing off. Pretty hard first thousand, enjoying the last

500. 150 out from the line in the second heat back of the men's single

sculls in the Olympic regatta. Now clear through. Second place is

looking like Petervari-Molnar from Hungary has had the better of

Esquivel from Uruguay. Leon Garcia, in the mid-1000. So, Drysdale is

true, the crowd appreciating that, a lot of Kiwi fans in the stands at

the Lagoa Stadium. Then we have Petervari-Molnar and Esquivel from

Uruguay taking the third qualification spot. James, no

surprises. One thing we can say is that Mahe Drysdale is looking pretty

good but the crucial thing is that he's set

himself up. Mahe is a holiday island and it is somewhere that his parents

love going Cruyff Cracknell will be listening

at home. It is warm back here. It is obviously much warmer next door in

the cabin where the Germans have a parasol and they enjoyed several

people to hold it over their presenters. Talking about the

loneliness of the long-distance single sculls, it is a tough event.

Something I always wanted to do but I wasn't very good at it. It is

quite tough. The highs are higher but the lows are certainly lower but

when things are going wrong, there is no one to play off and get back

on track. Does it demand a certain similarity of purpose and

individuality to say that you are prepared to spend hours and hours,

like marathon runners, out on the water by yourself with nobody to

bounce off and engage with? It is a very different mentality to the

other rowing boats, you are a real loner, you have a coach who works

closely with you but you have a very small team, trying to get the best

out of you. You are out on the water for hours and hours, just ploughing

up and down, your mind going through all sorts of different things. I

want a chat with, so you have to have is that personality. On a

technical point, if you have two, Roger, eight people in a boat,

they're all sorts of weights and counterbalances to make sure it goes

in a line -- two, four, eight. By definition in this you on your own.

How much better of a technician do you have to be, how much more core

stability do you need to make sure you don't tip over? Why wouldn't say

more because the single sculls vessel isn't much smaller than the

double skull or pair. It is actually more of a stability problem with a

pair because you have one on one side of the boat, you can have more

and you are balancing it but in the single you are balancing both sides

yourself, so there is more stability on that. When things start going

wrong, they go wrong in a big way and it is difficult to get out of

the spiralling process to get it on track. Moving on to the Britain's

single skull Alan Campbell in a moment, but there is a lot of

longevity in the single sculls. Maybe this is the individual

mentality you talked about, but many people do this for a long time and

there are quite a few contestants in the men's and women's events in

their mid, late 30s, even into their 40s. It's a bit like marathon

running. The older you get the more mentally strong you become from it

and you need that mental strength within the single to keep going.

When you have carved out a niche, some of these countries are a to be

small, so they aren't able to produce any other rowing boats, so

the only option is the single. They have to keep their head down and

made sure they keep faster to keep competing in the Olympics and then

get to the Olympics. Froch years ago in London, Alan Campbell won a gold

medal -- four years ago. One of his great claims to fame will be that

he's the first man from Northern Ireland ever to compete four Olympic

Games. These are he's thoughts coming into these Games. -- his

thoughts. So, the fourth Olympic Games for

you. Yeah. Does it feel the same as those Olympic Games back in Athens?

You know what, Athens was very different, I was the last guy into

the team and I was very lucky to be there. It was a real experience and

it has what gave me a taste and zest to continue on my Olympic path. The

gladiators are down on the start, all six of them lining up. We are

away in the Olympic final of the men's heavyweight single sculls.

Alan Campbell in Lane number three. He is out like a rocket. The first

Northern Ireland Olympian to have gone to four Olympic Games, this one

feels very sign. Alan is not going to roll over, he refuses to be left

behind and Alan Campbell from Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Lane

three, mounting his challenge again. There's no unfinished business, I'm

going all out, doing what I can do. And now, Alan Campbell in Lane

number three has responded to the crowd on the far side, one or

stroke, Alan, to get yourself ahead. A gold medal today going to Mahe

Drysdale and it's going to be Alan Campbell getting the bronze medal.

We also all what it took out of you to win the bronze in London. Is it

completely ridiculous to think you can do it again in Rio? All I want

to do more than anything else is to do my best race. If I can do that,

whether it is first or last, I'll be very satisfied that I can walk away,

I'll be a happy man. Alan Campbell has done us all so proud. Ladies and

gentlemen, the Olympic bronze medallist, Alan Campbell. CHEERING

Listened to the crowd. You are probably friendlier with your

opponent than anybody else in the rowing events, Mahe might come and

stay in your house when he comes to London but you might be in the lane

next door to him for the Olympic final. You won't say much to him

across the water, 60 seconds before the final begins. Definitely not, it

is a situation where I'm there to try and prove I'm better than him

and he's there to prove to the world that he's better than everybody. But

when you cross the finish line, the only other person who can talk to

you is the man U raced alongside. -- the man that you raced alongside. We

have huge respect for each other. You poll the spend more time in the

single skull than anybody that Britain has ever produced in rowing,

so what would you say to the young teenager who's going to watch you

and say that he would like to do it. Rio might be the end, but it is the

beginning for a new breed coming through and I am proud of that fact.

The chamber 's brothers, myself, and I'm not saying I am responsible for

them, but in some ways there is a new breed of talent coming up and

that is the thing I am most proud of, to see young people coming up,

getting into the sport I love, that has given me so many opportunities,

to live a life less ordinary. Four years ago we spoke about inspiring a

generation and Peter Chambers is in action later and it is a dynasty of

Irish growers being created. Amazing, a good setup, bringing good

athletes through and being inspired by the guys who have been doing it,

especially Allen, the last four Olympics. Alan has had an

up-and-down time the last four years. He has had some low moments.

More lower than high in the last four years. Being here and being

here as a contender is a major achievement on his part. Very much

so. He has stepped up the last two years and this season moved on from

where he finished off last year. The first two years out of London, the

intensity he put into London was incredible and moving on from that,

he is easing back a little bit and then he started to come back. I

would be surprised if he won medal but if you are reigning Olympic

bronze medallist you have a chance. The second heat is just finishing. I

will tell you who took part, Venezuela, I am sorry, Lithuania,

Poland, Uzbekistan, Poland, Argentina. How much is there a

possibility in broadening the base of the sport and increasing the

countries that can be competitive at the highest level? It is important

to encourage countries to be involved and developing the standard

but it is tough when you get to the ultimate event, which this is. We

have six heats, spread between the first and the last in all heats are

very tough. There is one good person, I think there is one heat

with two good people in it. It is tough, but we have to encourage

other nations to move on. What we should do, the bigger nations taking

under their wing one of the smaller nations, to build them up. Like a

Premier League football club taking on a non-league club. Is there a

will to do that? There is not, because it comes down to finance.

The bodies should be coming up with the finance if they want to develop

the sport realistically. That is the best way to do it rather than

allowing crews to come to the Olympics, where they know they will

not do well. It is just taking the boxes. That we have so many nations

at the Games. Cost is a factor and every four years, it is probably the

first time people have seen rowing for a long time. How much does a

boat Koss? Good question, I cannot remember the last time I had to buy

one. A single is about 4000, ?5,000, and eight is in the region of

?40,000. As an athlete you do not go out and buy an eight and you join a

club and get to do the sport free of charge for the rest of the year.

Mentioning Alan Campbell, I think he is at the start. I will not ask you

why he is called Alan, Gary! You are too good to me. Alan

Campbell in lane number four. The first three will go through to the

quarterfinals. Andrew peoples from Zimbabwe in three. Alan is in four

and bemoan me Mo from Indonesia, 2016 debut, -- is in lane number

five -- Memo Memo. There will be a stretch of ability. Alan will know

he has had an indifferent year. In different in the last couple of

years, so he has to bring it up through the regatta as they come

under starters starter's orders. They are awake quick in lane number

five, Memo Memo jump out, making the most of being the first ever

Indonesian rower to qualify for and Olympic regatta. Through the regatta

there are human interest stories. It is a big day in the life of Memo

Memo and the Indonesian contingent. He has had to work hard to earn his

place and he is in amongst it. Alan Campbell sitting inside lane number

five. There is a lot of high rate going on. He is powerful and fast,

but when I watch him, I see high rate and I want to see more speed.

He does have huge high-speed, arguably the highest boat speed than

anybody in the field, but what he does not have is easy speed. You

always get the feeling he is working it. And he has a good spring. In the

single you need easy, efficient speed. In a heat where he is by far

the best, he will make it look easy but the reality is when he comes up

against Drysdale, Ondrej Synek, who we will see next, he will have to

find the speed in the middle to be competitive. He has not had a

consistent year but every race has got better. Not making the final of

the World Championships since 2013. He has had a bad couple of years. He

was third in the last World Cup and fifth at the one before and he is

bronze medallist, so he can perform on the big stage. He needs to build

his confidence. A breeze coming up in the second 500 metres. Alan

Campbell sitting in four. Making two statements, as he eases out to

Clearwater. A big personal statement, early days in the regatta

and competition, and they will not go to the line over the 2000 metres,

but they will try to put in a QuickTime to the 500 metres and to

the 1000 metres as a benchmark. I don't want to do injustice to the

others, and Memo Memo, just a little bit down from the Belarussian. He

has to beware of Kim. Alan will make a personal statement. He has to be

clean as he takes the blades out. He can afford to do that now, but he

will need to be sharper and cleaner with his finish. The water is

starting to move in the middle 1000 metres. Starting to get lumpy. It's

just after 10am here. The last race starting at 1pm. It could be more

like the sea at Copacabana than the flat water of the swimming pool at

the Olympic Park. What he did well was to clear out and he can get used

to the conditions and set himself up for a good quarter. Alan Campbell

through the halfway mark in his heat. Memo Memo from Indonesia in

five is having the time of his life. Currently in third place, in the

qualification spot and if that holds he goes to the quarterfinal and

remember he is the first Indonesian rower to qualify for and Olympic

regatta. Look at the water, Alan struggling, it is getting bouncy.

The lake going out to the middle, so they come away from the side and in

the middle 1000, with the wind coming from their side, making it

tricky, having to back down. They are going forwards now. The first

three to qualify are through to the quarterfinal and the remaining two

go to the repechage. The reason it is an issue with the wind, on a

normal course, the outside lane is only five, ten metres from the back,

but when the course opens out you are 200 metres from the back and the

wind has further to carry over the water, affecting the scullers.

Especially those on the far side. You can see the wind shifting. He is

relaxed enough and far enough in the lead that he can concentrate on

making sure his boat is set up whereas you have three scullers

battling for places. The 21-year-old from Indonesia, Memo Memo, pushing

on. Having to hold off and he is doing that from Shcharbachenia, who

was seventh in the World Championships. A great day for Memo

Memo, so far. 1500 metres, three quarters of the way through. Alan,

it is all about technique. Controlling it. The race on from

Shcharbachenia and Memo Memo in number five and among them is De

Jong Yong Kim -- came from career. from Korea. They come back into the

water. The middle 1000 is getting bouncy out in the middle. They come

back in towards the side. The water is getting better. The British fans

are on their feet. They are right in front. The union flags bordering the

rails. They got here early, got their seats. Alan has not

disappointed. A big statement for Alan Campbell. He has got to step

up. He was fifth at Lucerne. Step, step. He is hunting down the medals.

I spoke to him the other day and in his mind, realistic or otherwise, in

his mind he is here for one medal and the colour is gold. He has the

bronze, he wants to miss out the silver. Go straight to go, collect

the gold medal. Alan Campbell for Great Britain has done a good

opening job. Through to the quarterfinals. Shcharbachenia in

second and Memo Memo from Indonesia has done a fantastic job qualifying,

third position and through to the quarterfinal.

I was trying to work out the time difference between here and

Indonesia and I cannot work it out but if they are watching, they will

be thrilled by that performance of their man coming in third and

qualifying for the quarterfinals as we see a slow motion shots of Alan

Campbell. How happy will he be? Reasonably happy. I am peering

around to see the shot. I think he will be very happy. Very smooth,

very strong. He will be extremely happy. The step up with the singles,

they have quarterfinals and semifinals. A lot of races in the

week and so he has two pace his energy but looking in good shape.

One great thing about the Olympic Games, you watch sports that you

almost do not give a thought too. We spoke about dressage earlier and

suddenly we are wrapped by dressage and then do not think about it and

people think the same about rowing. They will get so involved over the

next days. Perhaps not understanding the technicalities. When the

statistics come up as they did in the last race, that one is stroking

at 35 minute and somebody else is doing 28, 29, from afar, you would

think they must be going quicker but it does not mean that. Rate has no

difference. The rate of stroke is how many per minute but it is the

length of the stroke that is important and the power in the

individual stroke so the longer you wrote, the lower the rate will be

and if you have long strokes and a high rate, you will go faster but

you have to be able to lay it down to produce the length and power at

the same time. We have athletes from Algeria, Paraguay, Ecuador in the

next heat. Earlier there was an athlete from India who had a

fantastic back story. He finished third in his heat. Qualifying in the

quarterfinals. He watched London 2012, watched the rowing and was

inspired to start then. Over four years, he has got it here. He joined

a training group in India from a remote village from where he was

from and the first thing he did when he was watching the lake, he was

thinking, how can I get the water back home? It is humbling. These are

the stories that we like being around here. He was sent to a

high-performance area in India, looked at the lake and the first

thing he thought about was getting water back home. This is what the

Olympic Games is all about. He has done his country proud, qualifying

to the quarterfinals. We're into the fifth feet, with the

world champion, Ondrej Synek, sitting in Lane four. Paraguay in

lane one, Ecuador in two, Australia in three, the Czech Republic in four

and Algeria, also making his Olympic debut, Sid Boudina, in Lane five.

So, Ondrej Synek, in Lucerne he finished second, the world champion

last year but he has had a very up and down season, especially at the

European Championships but the water conditions were not particularly

good. The last ten years, the head-to-head has always been between

New Zealand's Mahe Drysdale and the Czech Republic's Ondrej Synek and

that is what the international fans are building up to, the showdown

between two Mac and Ondrej Synek. -- between Mahe. You can see how Ondrej

is bubbling but the breed is coming from left to right -- is not

struggling but the breeze. The Algerian just going over in fifth

place. Look how the wind is moving to the right. What's happening,

Ondrej moving here is bows over. They can control these boats and

they are a foot and a bit wide, very thin. It is hard just keeping them

level. If you try it, you will fall in nine times out of ten. You might!

You saw the picture of Synek from behind, he's a very skinny athlete.

Some of the other scholars are more muscular -- Temple back. In his

head-to-head with Mahe Drysdale over the last few years -- some of the

other skullers. In 2013, and he was the silver medallist at the last two

Olympics. This is by standard that it shocking. Over the last six weeks

you will have on its training camp. Not very sharp. The white water

coming up. Even Ondrej, the world champion, three-time world champion

at the last couple of it. You mention how the struggling. The

picture in ships were with the big beat the beast. I felt for them.

Normally you want to be in the race but I was happy on the side.

At the halfway mark in heat five of the men's single sculls, it is Synek

from the Czech Republic, it is Arturo Rivarola Trappe be from

Paraguay, then you have Rhys Grant from Australia. At food to the

It is going to be a distraction, or is it moving the hands quicker, are

you focus on it, stroke for straight. If it is rough I would

rather be in a single. You can cope with the conditions the best way you

can. Two individuals might cope differently, if you are rowing in

the same boat it might rock and roll, so at least he is on his own.

He is in the narrowest boat and it is slow-moving. Cut straight through

the job, whereas if you are in a single and it is wobbly and slab,

you will feel it more. Tension in the shoulders will be big. And the

good thing for him is he's quicker than the other sculler.

1500 metres, three quarters of the race has gone. You can see the

breeze moving from left to right across the course here. The third

500 was dealt with quite well by it Synek from the Czech Republic. Lane

number one we've got Arturo Rivarola Trappe a from Paraguay and Rhys

Grant from Australia, sitting in third place. Those three skullers

look like they will go through to the quarterfinals. Looking down

here, the overhead camera, which is fantastic. It was in London 2012 and

we could follow the cruise down the course and get in the boat. Just

showing that Ondrej had calmed down a bit. Without the

is Arturo Rivarola Trappe a holding off Rhys Grant. In the men's

quadruple sculls, Rhys Grant was a couple of years ago but haven't seen

much of him since. He is squeezing back a little bit on Rivarola

Trappe, the Olympic debut for the Paraguay skuller. About 200 now, 150

from the line. The wind goes again. Nicely covered. Synek may look

fairly comfortable, winning by a long way but if I was his position I

would be quite pleased with how badly he handled the water. I think

Drysdale will handle it better. Coming up to the line, Ondrej Synek,

the world champion, safely into the quarterfinal and we have Rhys Grant,

hammering it as if he was in the final. Why is he doing it? He

doesn't need to. He had to put in a sprint that had him on 38 strokes

per minute. Ridiculous. He gets a better draw in the quarterfinal,

that's important when you are at the bottom end, you want as good a

chance as possible. Heat five has gone.

Quick word about the conditions out there? Synek was a mile away. Rowers

like flat water. Where the start is, you're close to the bank and you are

going out into the middle of the lake. It is almost the shape of a

boot, the toe is pointing towards Copacabana beach, where the wind

comes from. That section from just over 500 metres, it is side wash and

that is awful to be rowing in, but the pairs will struggle in its more

than any other boat. We've got five more British boats to take part in

the opening day. It is difficult for those on the water but whether body

else it is like a sporting the Urbana here, Hazel.

I would have two great -- sporting Nirvana. -- I have to agree. I pinch

myself whenever I look over my shoulder. Sport is ingrained in

Brazilian culture. People playing volleyball, football and a mixture

of the two. We are going to concentrate on the men's road race,

150 miles, 500 metres of climbing and six hours of racing lying ahead

very shortly. Chris Froome is clearly the stand out in the British

quintet of riders but every single one of them has the chance to win a

medal, most notable the Welshman Geraint Thomas, who selflessly has

helped to put Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome on the top step of the

Tour de France podium. Thomas himself is a two-time gold medallist

on the track and he is the Commonwealth Games road race

champion but might step out of the Olympic shadows this time?

What are you like as a team-mate would you say? I'm a great

team-mate! Everyone wants to be team-mates with me. COMMENTATOR:

It's another world record and an astonishing world record. And Great

Britain have won the gold medal. Faultless display there. Fortunately

I've been in some great teams in the past and we've had some great

results, so hopefully I can continue. What does it feel like,

winning Olympic gold? It was unreal when we won Gold, especially in

Beijing when I was only 22. It was a massive whirlwind. Seeing those

images of people receiving theirs and from next thing you know, you

are standing there alongside your mates. It was weird and I didn't

appreciate how big it was back then. Now I'm old, I am 30 and I can look

back. Certainly it was a special moment. This year you're aiming for

road race gold. What physical changes have you gone through to

transform yourself from a track rider to the road rider? Quite a lot

of weight, that is a big thing. How much? Must have been 74, 75 in

London but on the road this year during the Tour I would be around

68. It is a big shift. On the road as well you are competing for over

six hours, there are a lot of variables, a lot can happen, my race

can be affected by what other people do. In the road race you can have

the best legs in the race and come away with nothing. COMMENTATOR:

There is a problem here for Geraint Thomas! A puncture of the front

wheel. This makes life interesting in the race yet again. Oh, no. This

is unbelievable for Geraint Thomas. Geraint Thomas is going to win with

a little bit of elbow room here. This is a moment that he can savour

here. So often the team player but now the glory will be his. And

Geraint Thomas wins for Wales in Glasgow in 2014. What a superb

victory. Are you too nice to be a team

player? No, people have asked me that, but I don't think so. When it

comes to racing on the bike, I'm not as chilled back as I am off it. I

would cut anybody up in the sprint, if I'm in Rio and the barriers are

here and somebody is coming up here, I'll be the first person just

slightly wheezed them! -- squeeze. Chris Lloyd, he was accessible but

you can be two different people on and off the bike -- Chris Hoy. It is

going to be brutal for him and it is going to be compelling for everybody

watching it and it's going to take six hours. They won't cross the line

until 4pm here, 8pm your time. We will see the early stages and get a

feel for the really tough course which Chris Boardman has called the

most brutal ever in Olympic history. Jill Douglas and Chris Boardman, you

are down there, can you remind everybody who may be joining us of

who is going to ride for whom here. Normally in the Tour de France

everybody would support Chris Froome, but could it be that Chris

may support Geraint Thomas or somebody else in the quintet?

It is intriguing, how they approach the race, because there were only

five members in the great British team: the maximum anybody can have,

it isn't like Uysal in London where they were ready for Mark Cavendish

-- like you saw. It is not like the Tour de France where they are racing

for a protected rider but this could be every man for himself. They have

a deck of cards to play here. They are on the line here, 150 riders

ready to start and amongst them, the Great Britain team and we hope that

Chris Froome is among them. We are shouting over the tannoy, can he

come and sign on. The riders have got to sign on before they start the

race. They well but I think he will just get a fine, it is a

technicality. Everybody is worried,, you called it a warm Blackpool,

doing a bit of a disservice! These riders at six hours in the saddle,

they are going to take it ready to begin with? I don't think so, the

Olympic road race, a lot of people know that they don't have a photo

with the clients coming later on so they will go for the breakaway. With

such small teams, just four people, you can't control the race -- with

climbs. It is the going to go off all day. The first circuit, they

will do finds. Two short and sharp climbs. It is such a tough course,

very difficult to predict. Valverde is very much fancied, we saw Nibali

out on the course, this has been one of his main focus is but it could be

very unpredictable. these are steep and long lines, the

final, two kilometres and four kilometre climbs together. I would

say 30. I cannot look past Valverde and Nibali. But it is about 30 guys

who can get over that line. And it will probably be a small group, so

you will have to be able to sprint. Chris Froome, he would need to be

away on his own. We have heard from Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas and

before the race gets under way we can hear from the rest of the

British team. You are the bright young star of

British cycling. The white jersey at the Tour, fourth overall, you must

be on top of the world? I had a fantastic Tour de France. If you

told me I would come forth and have the white jersey till the finish, I

would have taken that. We recovered well. Here we are. My first

Olympics. We have a fantastic team. We have the guy who has won the Tour

de France and those who have won one-day races. It has been

difficult, finishing the Tour de France are getting big recovery

right. Just getting the recovery right. It is all coming into place

now. Back in the team, a late call up. What is it like to be on Team

GB? It is great. I am looking forward to it. A bit of a surprise

but a nice surprise and looking forward to the race. How is the

politics in the camp? You were out spoken about the coach, are you over

that? You will never agree with everyone. I think it is good you can

disagree. It is important as a group to move forward. What is your role

in the team? I cannot tell you that just yet. We keep saying it is

unpredictable and guys will move early and those who cannot climb as

well as Chris Froome, or myself. It is looking after Chris Froome and

Geraint Thomas so they can race in the final as fresh as possible.

Getting water bottles, looking after the early moves and making sure the

right ones go and keeping them out of the wind.

Hopefully we can do something. The time for talking is over. They are

on the starting line and about to get the Olympic road race under way.

Chris Boardman has joined Simon Brotherton.

There is Chris Froome, winner of the Tour de France alongside his British

team-mates. Waiting for the flag to drop. The final moments of pensive

thought ahead of a long day in the saddle and a long, hot day, as they

prepare to leave Copacabana Beach behind. 144 of them are lined up and

the route is 237.5 kilometres. It includes spectacular vistas,

coastline, cobbles and a couple of circuits. Grumari, four lapse of

that. And the Vista Chinesa, the finishing circuit. We are almost

ready to go. Brian Cookson, the president, gets ready to drop the

flag. And the men's road race at the Rio

Olympic Games is under way. Brian Cookson drops the flag and with the

British riders at the front alongside some of the favourites and

away they go. We think they will be in the saddle six hours, finishing

around 4pm, UK time. What a spectacular setting they leave

behind. Chris Boardman is alongside me in the commentary position. I

think we can expect an excellent race, something of an epic battle.

The real battle I imagine will happen on the final circuit, the

three laps Vista Chinesa. The course is so severe. I researched back to

the 60s and gave up trying to find an Olympic course of similar

severity. It is serious climbs. They have made it interesting because the

finishing line is quite a few kilometres after the final ascent,

so it is not necessarily the best climber who will win. I think it

takes it down to 30 who could win the race, but we have such small

teams, five-man teams, no one can control the race. It opens it up.

There are Classics riders who could take this, certainly if it is a

small group and it is a sprint situation. The riders heading west.

Going along the beach-front at Ipanema. They are on the road that

links the two famous beach fronts. There is Alejandro Valverde, one of

the big race favourites. Along with Vincenzo Nibali, the winner of the

Italian Tour. Nibali is interesting. Through the Tour he fails to live up

to his high standards but stayed in the race and kept riding. You can

only assume it was preparation for the Olympics. Having won the

Italian, he just wanted to ride the Tour. Having looked at the course

yesterday, I think we are in agreement that Vincenzo Nibali is

perhaps a worthy favourite. We can look at the course guide.

The Rio 2016 road race route is the hardest I have seen since, well I

stopped researching whether I got to the 60s because I could not find one

of similar severity, but it is not just the climbs that will make this

a classic. Starting alongside the famous Copacabana Beach, they head

west through Ipanema away from the city along the coastal road. Before

arriving at the Grumari circuit. The 25 kilometres loop will be tackled

four times by the men, taking two short climbs. The tree-lined Grumari

at 1.2 kilometres and the 2.1 kilometres ascent. A maximum

gradient could lead to the first serious breakaways. The riders head

back along the coast of the second and demanding Vista Chinesa loop.

It is in the shadows of this jungle canopy where the race will be

decided. Because of its proximity to the finish and eight kilometres of

solid climbing. I choose my words carefully because it is two four

kilometres ascent, with a little descent in the middle. The first

section averages 10% and after a few seconds of respite they tackled the

Vista Chinesa climb which averages 6%. It will take them 20 minutes,

making it the obstacle of the day. What goes up must come down and it

is followed by a six kilometres fast and furious and technical descent.

An opportunity for a would-be rider to slip away. I say technical, I

mean it is dangerous. I think the descent could play as big a part in

the race as the climb itself. It is rapid, with hairpin after

hairpin and at the later stages, they will push it to the limit,

which is a problem. The edges of the road drop away. If they make a

mistake, they will not recover. They are surrounded by concrete and trees

and to compound it, the dappled shadows on the roads makes it

difficult to see where the edge of the road is.

When they get back to the coast, there is less than 20 kilometres

left. They pull around the last bend with 500 metres to go and see the

chequered flag on Copacabana Beach. Climbs and ascents and technical

aspects, potential crosswind and even cobbles. It is as if the

organisers have looked at every classic to see what is a good cause

and ticked every box. They have done their bit. It is now over to the

riders. Having seen that finishing circuit I

think we can say most of the riders we are looking at, Chris, will not

be there. It is hard to know when the first attacks will come. They

know the climbs that face them and some of them the only opportunity is

a wild breakaway attempt. I thought we might see attacking at an early

stage, because there might be a slim chance but it is the only one. The

fast circuit has two small climbs, the obvious place for a serious

attack, and they are narrow. There are even cobbles, incredibly. They

have every ingredient on this cause. What we are watching is the riders

slowly heading through Rio towards Barra and eventually towards the

Grumari circuit, a long journey along the coast road. We thought the

wind might play a part. It is an open part of the race. It looks like

they are fortunate and have an offshore breeze and are protected by

the hills they will climb later. Some of those who might be more

interested in attacking early currently finding their route

blocked with the likes of Chris Froome and some of the bigger name

riders filling the front of the road at the moment. Number 33, the Dutch

rider, one of four in the race. He had a big win last weekend, riding

well in the Tour de France and was second for a long time but dropped

down to tenth and beyond. But he won the one-day San Sebastien race. A

really nice guy. He is in the group of 30. He can climb, but he can also

sprint. A good tactical head, which he uses for a single day race.

Certainly a contender. Given that the climb to Vista Chinesa, where we

think it will be won and lost, that is where the selection will take

place. That climb is effectively two separate climbs with a one

kilometres descent, given that is the selected part, do you think it

will lead to more attacking racing in that climbers know they cannot

just clip off the front on the last lap and have advantage because of

the 12 kilometres to the finish? May be as early as the second lap

climbers will put their cards on the table? They have three climbs, three

solid climbs, they will have to go from the start. The big change we

have mentioned is the small team sizes. It changes the dynamics of

the race. None of the riders we are looking at are used to that. You

cannot hold back a breakaway, you have to to be vigilant all the time.

If a solid group of half a dozen riders goes away it will be

difficult to get them back and another factor on the climbs is it

is narrow, maybe space for five riders are breast going up and down,

and it will string them out. Even if you are a good climate you might not

be able to find your way through. We came up on the jungle canopy

yesterday and you would never know the Olympic Games road race would

take place 24 hours later. Some barriers, some padding on the trees

in case someone took a wrong turn, but other than that, little sign of

the pending epic action. We realised we were surrounded by monkeys in the

trees! We have seen the high-rise blocks. We were in the jungle

surrounded by wildlife. The racing is at last underway.

We've only been going for a few moments. Already the riders are

starting to think about going for the long one. Just testing the

waters at the moment. I think we will see a bit of this before the

group is formed properly and is allowed to gain a bit of ground on

the peloton, then the race can settle down. As the breakaway goes,

as long as it is the right combination it will suit the bigger

riders because it means there is no incentive for the people to keep

attacking as long as they monitor it. You will find alliance is not

only between the national teams but don't forget that these guys are

professionals in their day job so there are alliances that can be

formed to temporarily control the breakaway and we will look out for

that as far as we can. Rodriguez bringing up the rear. Adam Yates,

number 21 for Great Britain. This could be a good course for him. I

know everybody is saying Chris Froome, Chris Froome, but he hasn't

won a race like this. Adam Yates, if Chris Froome is in the mix when the

rates is kicking off, everyone is watching him, Adam Yates going up

the road, one of the top riders, he could win the Olympic road race.

Making his way west from Rio. The first few riders are trying to test

their legs and make their mark on this Olympic Games road race because

as Chris was saying, most of these riders know that they don't have any

chance at all of winning this race. Just coming round the headland now

and the slight rise that we saw. It is very flat all of the way to the

Grumari Circuit. Just finishing going around the headland now. You

can see the bike path on the side. Someone had a tragic accident,

collapsing a few months ago. A lot of cycling along these promenades,

people using them all day, which is great to see. The roads are looking

clearer than when we went in the opposite direction yesterday. We

were trying to look at the course and we were caught up behind the

torch relay. Two hours later I think we had moved about a mile and a

half! There is quite a breeze that we can

feel at the moment. It seems to be pushing the riders along at the

moment. Valverde at the back, surely he will fancy his chances on a

course like this. His strike rate in terms of World Championship medals

is quite extraordinary. Showing no real signs of slowing up in his

mid-30s. He must ride near the back, many of the favourites will be at

the back so they don't get involved in any of the action. Even if a big

breakaway goes, you can't race all day, you must choose when to expend

your energy and it makes sense for the big riders to wait until the

last probably 30 kilometres before they get on the front and start

doing their thing. It is going at a fair clip. Spectacular scenery, not

that they have a chance to take advantage of the view. It is all

about the track surface, what Bend is coming up and those around you.

Fantastic surf to the left-hand side. Tom Dumoulin, one of the

favourites for the men's time trial, along with Chris Froome. Tom

Dumoulin had a nasty accident towards the end of the Tour de

France which may potentially hamper his chances. Yes, I think it was a

broken wrist. I would still say he is the odds-on favourite for that

event, his time trial at the Tour de France was very impressive, he's

really concentrated on the event and I don't think he will let it eat

him. -- let it deter him. Just slotting in. A lot of the

riders who are the sole representatives of their countries

are just looking to get involved, make their mark and let people know

that they are here. So this is their part. Very easy to sit in in these

conditions. It is a good road surface, actually, even on the

climbs later on, which we will talk about later, some of them are

downright treacherous on the descents, but the surfaces are very

good by and large stop you see the level of population here. -- by and

large. One of the Fran Velez of Rio. Just in from the coast -- favalas.

Packed in on the hillside. Back with the race. Some of these riders are

determined to form a breakaway group. Fractious at the start. When

the riders are looking round all the time, they are starting to feel the

effect of constant attacking and they are thinking that they would

like to have somebody else help them out. Those momentary pauses when the

gaps open and there is less incentive to close it.

You can see the shape of the peloton behind, it isn't strung out. If

something serious went in the first half of the race you can expect

Stannard, fantastic team rider, probably the only person in the

British team is not going for a win in the race. He's going to do a job

for his team-mates. A chunk of those riders in the same team, Team Sky.

For those who don't want cycling very often, we shouldn't forget that

many of these riders are wearing different jerseys today but they are

team-mates for the rest of the year. Although it shouldn't come into play

it has the potential to be a factor in terms of the way that they ride

at certain times. We got our first problem of the day. Doesn't seem to

be any kind of urgency to get back in the race. That is the Turkish

rider, Valcan. I don't think it was a major crash, it was some

concertina ring, and just moving off to the side -- Balkan. Nobody

running over with a sponge. Getting back in the saddle. The National

road race champion of Turkey, just 20 years of age. First hint of the

incline for the peloton. You can see the early attempt of a breakaway

group, not allowed to get away. The Turkish rider is back on the

road. At this stage he should be able to get back to the peloton

before too long. Here we are back at the front once

more. Just constant tiny fractures, just small fissures appearing.

Something to notice, the gutters at the side, it is the standard way of

building roads and it is just a drop, at the edge of the tarmac and

then a solid concrete curb. Later on, when they are descending, there

is no room for error, no chance of going onto some greenery and

recovering. If you go off the edge of the it's really serious. It looks

like Tony Martin is having a go. Having a stab early on, I'm

surprised it is so early for him. Already seeing some riders at the

back. That is Tom Dumoulin. My colleague from Dutch radio said he

would probably go about five kilometres and then climb off.

Whether it is mechanical or he has abandoned it to concentrate on the

time trial. He doesn't seem to be in a rush. That was a pre-considered

decision. Surprised to see him lining up. You can see him waiting

for the race traffic to go past and then he's going to go back down the

course. He looked good in the time trial during the Tour de France. It

was a very hilly time trial as well, less hilly than it is here but he

was technically very good. Everything about his riding was very

considered. Spent a lot of time training on the time trial bike.

Terrible picture here at the finish line, is that Simon gets

key -- Simon Geschke. Some of these races, if you don't have an out and

out climate, you have to do something a little bit avant-garde.

Andre hammered all, the lone rider from Costa

Rica -- Andrey Amador. Potentially opening up here. Again, a very dark

and shady picture. It looks like it might be Geschke from Germany. Not

many of these twists and turns early on so they are making the most of

the opportunity to string out the peloton.

We are just hearing over the tannoy on the street that indeed it is

Simon Geschke, the German rider, a stage winner in the Tour de France

last year. A very steep finish, even if you only walking up it. Geschke,

the best beard in the peloton, just leading the way, stretching them

out. We believe this race will take about six hours. Here we are with

Geschke. And the rider just behind him almost overshooting the

right-hand bend on the descent. It takes them a bit by surprise when

they which from the big open roads. We will have a look at that. We'll

see a lot more of this type of terrain later in the race. Small

patches of it early on. Mostly the big open roads to get them across.

Feedback of that little group. Here we are at the front. Geschke and it

looks like one of the Polish riders is with him. They have a strong

team. I wonder if that is Konovalovas. We will get a

better look shortly. Not sure if they want to continue with it. You

have put the effort into the move. Some big-name is playing that we

weren't expecting until later in the race. Sitting up, monitoring things.

Waiting for the group to swell a little bit. Getting in a prime

position so he can dictate what's going to happen. He is one of the

outsiders for the race. Perhaps not showing the form of recent years

which is why we haven't brought him in. Going well at the start of the

season, winning a race at the start of the Sprint season but he didn't

ride in the Giro d'Italia or the Tour de France. He certainly has the

capability, worth keeping an eye on. They have a strong team,

Baga and Golas and Majka. That's quite a decent working group. Now

they started going through. Not going flat out here. They still have

221 kilometres to race. But they have the lead and they are thinking

that they might as well make the most of it. Some fractures happening

as a result of the bends we saw earlier, splitting things up a

little bit and it is taking a few seconds to get back together again.

Slight advantage for the six riders. Someone else feeling he has missed

the train, trying to bridge the gap at the moment. The peloton has sat

up as well, so deciding to let them go. Some big names. Always a

possibility in Olympic road race with such small teams that a move

can go from a long way out or at least it can coalesce, which

happened in London and the latter part of the race, the last 100

kilometres. Riders on Foxhill were going off up the road and suddenly

you had 30, 40 riders and they contested the Sprint tennis.

We have six riders, a good working group. The Russian is one of those

riders. A number in 11 from Colombia, who again would be a

threat in this race, potentially. He went so well in the Tour de France.

This is a solid group. Norway have arrived in the group, number 54.

Bystrom. This is a stronger group then we would expect at this stage

in the proceedings. The rider trying to bridge the gap there. From the

Czech Republic. He has is numbered skewered. -- he has his number

obscured. We can see the flattening of the front of the peloton. They

are happy to let it go. They will work it out later. You can bet the

team managers are talking to each other back in the car, now they

understand the make-up of the group and they will say, we will letting

go, and then we will work together to pull it back. It is a game of

chess, a bicycle race. There are so many elements to it. The big mix is

the small team sizes, which I like. It makes it more about the

individual and makes being able to read a race more important. Number

41 at the back of the grid. Albasini is capable in groups like

this. He won the overall classification in Great Britain in

2010. He completed the Tour de France this year. Albasini, just to

let you know why he would be potentially a threat in a race like

this, he was seventh and second this year. A former world champion, Tour

de France stage winners in here. And Albasini, as well.

They have committed. This is a good group. It is a good size group of

six. Allowing for the fact they have 217 kilometres to go. Look at the

gap opening up behind. It is the move we expected to see at the early

stage but perhaps not the participants. It would be good to be

given time gaps. We are not provided with that information. But here we

are. 46 seconds. 48 to the chase. The peloton is one minute back. No

surprise to see an early rake away. Often we see riders from what you

would describe lesser cycling nations showing their faces at the

front early on. Already travelling at a clip. They are going through

Barra at the moment. A prosperous suburb of Rio. Still

heading west along the coastal road and they will do for some

considerable time now. A beautiful day in Rio. The

temperature is in the high 20s. Very nice for days here watching the

start a little while ago to disappear onto the beach for a few

hours and to come back to watch the conclusion of the race.

The Czech Republic rider there. He has decided to give up the chase,

Petr Vakoc. There is no hint of any resistance now. The race will settle

down into something more of a rhythm. Such a long time to go. The

big names trying to avoid tapping into their reserves for as long as

possible. A shot of Chris Froome on the right. This is one of the

Belgian riders. With hopes as well, a young the 20-year-old. He won a

couple of smaller stage races. One of the promising Belgian riders on

the scene. Petr Vakoc missed the bus when it

disappeared. Here it is, hurting the -- along the road.

Bluffing each other really. Everyone saying, I am not going to use up my

men early on. Perhaps having the conversations between the managers.

Ultimately, it is down to them. No race radios today. The riders do not

get ready availability to information. I am a fan of no race

radios. I like the fact the riders have to know where they are on the

course. If somebody punctures, and they are supposed to be with the

lead and need to be around them. It changes the pattern of the race.

Passing information is more difficult and the team has to be a

good team. They have to know how others will react, even before they

have spoken to each other. Just rolling along. Still not committing,

the judgment on energy and where to expend this race. Pantano coming to

the front. He was a Tour de France stage winner and 19th overall.

Second on a couple of stages. He had a wonderful Tour. Simon Geschke's

decried was last year. -- big ride. Pavel Kochetkov was in the Giro

d'Italia and finished 32nd. A key animator in the breakaway group thus

far. Poland are in a good position and

Colombia. Colombia have other options in the line-up, as do

Poland. The right kind of move for him to be

in but potentially the wrong part of the race to be in it. The last 100

kilometres would be a good shot for Pavel Kochetkov. The race has not

kicked him in terms of the route itself. It is flat at the moment. We

have a section of cobbles along the road, eight kilometres, I think. On

the smaller circuit, the westerly circuit, the first of the two

circuits, the Grumari circuit, they have four laps. Two named climes.

Including Grumari. Several other undulating structures add to the

difficulty cumulatively. That is what makes the circuit difficult. It

is not a tough, brutal climb, it is constantly unrelenting. There are

some steep sections on the climb. I looked at the profiles of them

earlier today. I do not know why they are showing number 15, because

he has been ill and number 14 is more interesting.

Bardet can descend spectacularly. He will be waiting for the back-end the

race. Another French team-mate, a late addition, not in the initial

selection, he could be a player. They have multiple options and the

climes on the first circuit will not trouble them. Everybody is happy to

let it unfolds. The climate Grumari, just over one kilometre and

reportedly has sections of 24%. Only small, tiny ramps as they go around

the corner, perhaps, but big chunks at 12%, even 14. And later on the

circuit, slightly longer act two kilometres, dragging up a long way.

Averaging 7%. Two decent sections to string out the peloton. Valverde,

one of the big prerace favourites. Taking his time. We'll be late for

dinner will stop typing that in! I think we will see more of him later.

I will be very surprised if we do not. He is the man of the day, that

everybody tipped. He was a frustrated help in the Tour,

climbing better than I have seen him climb in years. Seldom drops the

ball. The only issue with the Spanish team is that you have

Rodriguez, who will be hoping to do well in his last professional race.

Waning a little bit, but not to be discounted. They really are going at

a pedestrian pace. We have not had a recent time check. Here we go, it is

almost as if they are listening! That is what I expect to see, going

out quickly. They can afford to let the breakaway go if they work

together to chase upwards of ten minutes. Average speed is still

pretty high. Leaders averaging 50 kilometres per hour. We could expect

a 40 kilometres average. Taking in the climes. Giving a finishing time

of just under six hours. For those watching at home, wanting to know

about British chances, everyone will know Chris Froome is riding today.

Five British riders, the maximum anyone can have in the team at the

Olympics and most nations have fewer. Can you talk us through

opportunities. I think there are several. If they choose to take it.

It is all on tactics and they have been cagey about disclosing them in

the past few days. They have fantastic options. Only one who is

there to do the hard work, Ian Stannard, not a climber but a

brilliant team rider and loyal. They know they can rely on him to do the

work where necessary between the climes as long as he can stay there

on the flatter sections. After him, the four members of the team, all

legitimately capable. Stephen Cummings was a late selection. Steve

Cummings, stage winner at the Tour de France. A fantastic solo escape

artist. He will look for an opportunity. He climbs

fantastically. He has shocked people this year, who think they do not

know him well. A big engine. Look for Steve going for a long one. He

would be a popular win in our house. Obviously Chris Froome. Only with

one small win, not winning a single day race. This is a big challenge

for him. He could get away on the climb. We know he can time trial.

Can you go 100% in this race today and in the time trial on Wednesday?

I would say yes. Just getting around this entire race, riding to be in

contention, you have already done the damage and might as well go all

in. Maybe that is a decision we will see later in the race. If a

breakaway goes and he is not in it. Psychologically, when you have other

options you start to suffer and think maybe I should pack this in

and think about the time trial. Geraint Thomas, an ideal course.

The nice thing about this claim is it two four K climbs with a

one-minute rest in the middle, which brings in Classics riders and if

there was a small group to go over the top of that final climb and

Geriant within it, he could sprinter bit and that wings is quite nicely

really took Yates here at the back, just checking something out on the

race card. No race radio. They are not able to talk to the team cards.

-- team cars. I think that he is probably the dark horse of the team

here. He has all the attributes. Such a marvellous Tour de France,

Excel. His performance throughout so consistent, the white jersey. If you

wonder where they are going off the road, they are going, as you can

imagine, for a comfort break. As it is politely called. Something of a

truce, where they go at the same time and try to make sure they are

away from the high street, or the village where they are. It's been

difficult in the last few kilometres. That's one of the

problems in the UK, there are so many people at the roadside and

nowhere to go. Moving along, Adam Yates won San Sebastian last year,

which is a hilly course. A hilly, big one-day race. He has shown on

this sort of route he is more than capable of performing well. The

German rider at the front you can see in the white jersey is Tony

Martin. The two riders from Venezuela as well chatting away

happily on the front of the peleton. Enjoy it while you can, because it's

going to get tough as the day wears on. It will be interesting to see

how the breakaway tackles this first circuit, because of those crimes and

really, they should wait for the slowest member. Effectively they

have become part of the team together and they need to look after

each other because they need the strength in numbers that they have

any hope of staying away from this peleton, as you look down the coast

road and nowhere in sight. Stunning, the scenery is stunning here.

Although the riders won't see it later on but at the top of some of

those climbs, in particular one of them it's magnificent, the view down

across Rio. You can see why so many people have made their home here and

why its popular place. This is the Turkish rider who fell off a bit

earlier on, clearly still suffering some discomfort. They will mock that

up, it will sting a bit but he will carry on. A good time to get it

done. Such a diverse course this. Look at the size of this road, this

beautiful surface, it is very flat. The roads that you will see later on

are quite incredible. I was stunned yesterday when I went to see the

course and saw just how narrow the roads are. They are just bigger than

bike path. I think there will be not -- there's no room for spectators.

We will not see a big bunch of finishing circuit, they will be

strung out, in bits and pieces. It's going to be strung out completely.

It will be blown apart. We will probably see maybe 40 or 50 people

finishing this race in total. Steve Cummings from Great Britain going

across your screen at the front. Pulling over, getting himself to the

front, the professional way to do it, get to the front and you have

given yourself an extra few seconds while the peleton goes past. To go

to the loo. He's off Darryn Lloyd -- often loitering near the back. He's

generally. What about the Italian squad, neighbourly? Alexander De

Marchi has won a stage in each of the last two. Of all the national

teams, Italy have never worked out how they've managed to ride as a

committed team. The three line whip always kicks in with them. They lay

it down for each other, they will give up their own chances and it is

an individual, if one person gets the medal or the World Championships

jersey, but they ride beautifully other team every single year and I

expect that to be no different here. They have some good cards to play.

They are team-mates with Castan, this won't be the case next year,

may be joining the new team, the Bahrain team that is being set up.

We have a close up view of the breakaway group. I think our

cameraman is trying to entertain us with... A nice view. Super slow Mo,

very shiny looking shoes. Still just over 200 kilometres to go, these are

the leading riders. If you've just joined us, the rider at the front on

the left is Albasini from Switzerland. On the front is Sven

Erik Bystrom from Norway. On the right-hand side, they are coming

through to do attorneys Pantano, stage winner in this year's Tour de

France. The Russian rider is Pavel Kochetkov, the Russian national

champion and the rider with the big red stripe down his jersey on the

front now with Kwiatkowski, races for Team Sky, a team-mate of Chris

Froome and Brian Thomas, the Polish rider. He was the world champion

couple of years ago. -- Geriant Thomas. It looks like time to start

at least riding a little bit of tempo here.

It looks like we are starting to roll through, you can see these

conversations amongst the riders, deciding just what they are going to

do. Most of the countries will have designated a team captain. Who will

be the ultimate decider of what the tactics are going to be. Italy are

going early here. They are not having to work too hard, that's for

sure. Thinking about rolling through. We mentioned the riders,

there are several from Italy. The Dutch rider is while Paul's, a good

outside bet. Not even outside, he could be top three, top three or

four potential riders for a circuit like this come on form, very wily.

How good was he during the Tour de France? What a fantastic ride on

behalf of Chris Froome. I think he it's an awesome team, that's the

strength of Team Sky, they are capable of buying in riders like

wild pools who are capable of being team leaders in their own right,

working in the service of Chris Froome, a great job too. -- Wout

Poels. He has a few good wins, those sorts of courses for those who don't

know, if you do well in those races, it gives you an indication this is

the kind of course for you. Absolutely, and that in with the

recent Tour de France and the form he showed, he has the capability and

performing this moment, so one of the top three or four riders for

today, certainly. They will remember him in Thame MERS, he won the Tour

of Britain last year. -- in the town in Devon. He's big in Devon. We have

the breakaway group, hopefully in the not too distant future they

might let us know what the gap is. It was nearly five minutes the last

time I saw. You are getting a tale now with the teams, if you like,

because they try to pretend they're not worried asked worried about a

breakaway going, but then amass near the front. The Spanish is obvious.

Steve Cummings. Having a chat with the team manager for the day. It's

quite a serious conversation there. There's a discussion on Steve

deciding he might want to do something early in the race, but

this is how the information has to be conveyed of course without

radios. He's got to go all the way back and then go and find all the

riders and disseminate that information, and it's such a lengthy

thing. It will have an impact on today's race. There's a few

kilometres, but it's not that many after the final climb, and when

somebody has got away, everybody is going to have to decide who's going

to chase, who is going to do the work, and it will take a while for

that information to percolate through whoever is left. Do you

think they were discussing the composition of the leading group and

the advantage they already had? Better riders than we would have

expected in the breakaway. It is certainly being taken seriously by

Italy and Spain. The peleton looks as if it is up into third gear,

shall we say. Going back to the communication front, if you are

struggling to let everyone know what's going on one of the better

ways is to stay together to talk readily. Still heading out towards

the grim Ari circuit, where they will do four lapse. The route today

for the road race looks a bit like a dumbbell. The circuit at the

left-hand end and the other circuit on the right. At least for those of

us with a decent imagination. The bar in the middle is the road along

the front. Past Boro, which is where they are going now. A long coastal

road, out and back, with a circuit at either end. Quite strung out now,

actually, there will be a few riders from some of the small and nation

starting to feel the pace a bit at the back of the peleton. The

breakaway six still probably taking some time, but only now a handful of

seconds every kilometre, because it's being regulated, as we go back

to have a look. They are out, heading into the circuit now, I

think. Just to let you know, the time gaps which are appearing on the

screen are the only time gaps we are being given, in case you were

wondering how far ahead they are, we're not getting that information

at the moment. Your guess is as good as ours. They are on the circuit,

quite clearly. 24.7 kilometres lap, they will cover it four times,

before heading back down the coast road. The first of the

climbs, Grimari, there's the circuit in yellow. It's that little point at

the far end, they have a few kilometres to the other side before

they tackle the second climb, the less difficult of the two. But it's

rolling in between as you can see. Fairly steady for these riders, the

one bringing up the rear is from Germany. Simon Richard Kerr, wrote

the Tour de France this summer. Norway have a strong line-up, he's a

team-mate of the Russian rider who is in the breakaway group for the

rest of the year. He's a good young rider, 24 now, he was the under 23

world champion in the road in 2014. Some beautiful scenery here. As we

mentioned earlier, not that the riders will appreciate it, but some

spectacular coastline. Good surfing territory, we were looking at that

yesterday. They sweep down the small descent. You see the wind is crossed

tale, not off the land at the moment, it's off the sea. That might

be one of the reasons that the Spanish team has decided to amass at

the front of the peleton in case there's an issue with crosswind.

Best to be safe than sorry. We saw the impact of cross winds in the

Tour de France of course. The gap staying steady at the moment, just

over seven and three quarters minutes. These six riders working

well together. I call that the thick end of eight myself. The thick end

of eight minutes but they are working well. The shape of the

peleton is subtly shaped -- subtly changing, work being done to

regulate things at the front. The length of that straight line at the

front says OK, I'm not too worried, I'll let it go and that's where

there's a big club further back there. If it was really serious

there would be an arrow point and the club would be at the front as

everyone fights to get position. Nobody is worried at the moment,

happy to let the two teams go at it. Dipped under the 200 kilometre mark

now. Amir hundred and 7.6 to go. You can see the pace, the helicopter

shot gives you a good idea. The front camera kills speed and makes

it look like they are standing still but they are trundling along here,