They looked at the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. They even did some charity work. But the main purpose of the journey to Brazil for the Dutch cycling team to Brazil was to do a recon the Olympic course. "And it’s quite tough."

Yesterday national coach Johan Lammerts was back in the Netherlands. For four days he looked at the roads around Rio, which will decide the road races on August 6 and 7. Three days later the time trials will take place.

"Everyone is impressed by the course. It's quite heavy. It will be a very difficult race,” he told NOS.

According to Lammerts, Alexandre Vinokourov’s successor will be a climber. "There is a steep climb of eight kilometers, with a gradient of eight to ten percent. It has to be climbed three times. We know everyone’s qualities."

Lammerts looked at the course with Robert Gesink, Wilco Kelderman and Steven Kruijswijk. 

First the riders have to arrive in Rio in optimal condition. 

"We have discussed with the riders how we are going to do the preparation. Most will have to ride the Tour until July 25. That's still the biggest race in everyone's agenda. There is a possibility that they will do the Clásica San Sebastián and then we will fly to Rio the Sunday before the Olympics.”

Apart from the jetlag Lammerts does not forecast any adjustment problems for his team. "The weather conditions are similar to those in the Netherlands at that time. As far as climate, there is also not much difference. It will be 25 to 30 degrees, not warmer."

In addition the trio who checked the course, the names of Wout Poels and Bauke Mollema are on Lammerts' list. And of cours, that of Tom Dumoulin who will also do the time trial.

According to the rules, the two riders for the time trial will come from the road race team.

"We know that Tom Dumoulin is a world class time triallist. So he is number one. The second spot for the time trial? Maybe I won’t use it. You have to look at the chances of everybody."

For the women it is very difficult. Lammerts looked at the course with Chantal Blaak, Lucinda Brand, Anna van der Breggen, Ellen van Dijk and Annemiek van Vleuten. It looks like a race for Van der Breggen who rode to silver at the World Championships.

The ladies will the Vista Chinesa once. "There are few races for women that are so difficult. This course is suitable for Anna. But also for Marianne,” said Lammerts, thus not ruling the participation of Mariann Vos out.

Vos made a last-minute decision not to do the recon. "At this point, it was too strenuous for her to just fly to Rio and back. We must have patience with Marianne." 

Lammerts expects the multiple world champion to be back on the bike this year although she has canceled her cyclocross season. "I'm not her coach and am also not very close to her, but I expect that she will be back on the bike in a not too distant future. This year.”

The final decision regarding the final selection for Rio won’t be made anytime soon. Lammerts may nominate four riders for the road race and two for the time trial for both men and women.

“On May 31, I will announce the nomination to NOC *NSF (the Dutch Olympic Committee,ed.)."