Both Chris Froome and Alex Dowsett have considerable pedigree in long time trials, which will mean that Great Britain’s selectors will have nightmares deciding who to pick for the country’s only spot at the Rio Olympics Time Trial.

Froome has the upper hand on Dowsett on the slightly hilly course in Rio, but he will be preparing for a Tour de France GC defence, which may leave him tired and Dowsett will only be targeting peak form for the Olympics. Either way, it’s going to be a good battle between the two.

“I’m going to give it everything. I’ve got to lose some weight if I want to be competitive there, start shedding muscle but maintain the power, to an extent like what Wiggins and Tom Dumoulin did, although not to the same extent,” Dowsett told Cyclignnews.

Dowsett will set himself goals throughout the season and wants to win a time trial in a familiar hunting ground, the Giro d’Italia, where he famously beat Bradley Wiggins in 2013.

“Obviously nothing’s selected yet, but to my mind the best way would be to win time trials in the Giro d’Italia. Certainly the Chianti one, there’s quite a bit of elevation, perhaps one that could help me in that [Olympic] selection.”

However, Dowsett knows that getting the spot over Froome, who is so strong on hilly courses, will be a difficult task and one that may leave him disappointed.

“I’m under no illusions. I’m going to be up against it. In terms of my road performances this year, they haven’t been all that spectacular.” 

“I’m up against Froome for Olympic selection, and at the moment, based on past performances, I wouldn’t take me. So I’ve got some work to do to prove I’m worthy for the spot.”

Dowsett says a second consecutive Tour de France start isn’t on his mind, but if he is asked to ride the race he would be honoured and would do the best job he could for Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde at the race.

“I’m more thinking about the Olympics but my role at the Tour was to deliver Nairo and Valverde in stressful situations, something I did well until I crashed, and I did mediocrely after I crashed. If Eusebio says the boys want you there at the Tour, that changes the dynamic again and we’ll work to that. All I’ve said is, from a selfish point of view, how best I can get selected for the Olympics sits well with the Giro d’Italia. But if they sit down and say it’s the Tour de France, I’ll be doing that.”