Peter Sagan has used his presence in South America (for the Tour de San Luis) to test the route of the Olympic road race in Rio de Janeiro. The world champion to make the race a goal but after the recon the Slovakian has apparently changed his mind. He now knows that it is a course "for true climbers" and so he will have other targets.

Sagan flew immediately after the end of the Tour of San Luis to Rio de Janeiro to do a recon of the course in the Brazilian metropolis. At a press conference, he explained his impressions: "I saw the Cristo Redentor in the distance This is clearly a beautiful city, with lots of greenery, mountains and beaches, but I came here to work. One day I may return as a tourist," het Nieuwsblad reports him as saying.

The trip to Brazil was not entirely smooth: Sagan was two hours too late at the press conference due to traffic. And the news were not great. "This course is not for me, it is more suitable for pure climbers. A medal here is not for me..."

What does that mean for his preparation for the new cycling season? "Nothing. I continue  to focus on the spring classics and the Tour de France." 

The road race in Rio takes place 13 days after the end of the Tour but given the very challenging course if Sagan decides to simply skip the race.