Olympic Cycling: Rio 2016 women's road race preview

Britain’s Lizzie Armitstead will be among the riders bidding for victory in the Olympic Games women’s road race on Sunday.

It is the most prestigious race in women's cycling and this year takes place on a hilly course in Rio.

Here is everything you need to know….

Olympic cycling schedule

Dates and times for every road, track, BMX and mountain bike race

WHEN DOES IT TAKE PLACE?

The race is on Sunday, August 7. It starts at 4.15pm BST and is scheduled to end at 7.40pm BST.

THE ROUTE

The race takes place on a 136.9km course in and around Rio containing five climbs.

It is split up into roughly five sections:

- A flat run out of Rio along the coast.
- Two laps of the hilly Grumari Circuit.
- A short dash back down the coast towards Rio.
- A climb to Vista Chinesa.
- A flat finale in Rio.

Here is the map and profile…

The Grumari Circuit contains a cobbled section and two climbs, which are each ridden twice. Here is the profile of the Grumari climb, followed by the profile of the Grota Funda climb…

Here is the profile of the Vista Chinesa climb…

The summit of Vista Chinesa comes with 14.8km to go. It is followed by a descent of about 5.3km and then 9.5km of flat to the finish beside Copacabana beach.

HOW TO FOLLOW THE RACE

Join our live blog from 4pm BST.

THE FAVOURITES

LIZZIE ARMITSTEAD

Age: 27. Nationality: British. Sky Bet odds: 9/2.

The reigning world champion had been heavily fancied for gold until news emerged that she had missed three drugs tests and only escaped a ban after a successful appeal. She has subsequently admitted that she is uncertain of her mental state going into the Games, but the controversy could just as easily fire her up as distract her. In purely physical terms, Armitstead is not perfectly suited to the course but is such an outstanding all-rounder that she should be able to meet its various challenges and will almost certainly be in contention in the finale.

Lizzie Armitstead's build-up has been affected by a doping test scandal

ANNA VAN DER BREGGEN

Age: 26. Nationality: Dutch. Sky Bet odds: 4/1.

Van der Breggen is one of the best climbers in the world and seems ideally suited to the course. She won the hilly La Fleche Wallonne in the spring and finished third at the Giro d'Italia last month, so she is almost certain to be forcing the pace on the climb to Vista Chinesa. She is potentially a co-leader of the Dutch team along with Marianne Vos (see below).

MEGAN GUARNIER

Age: 31. Nationality: American. Sky Bet odds: 11/2.

Guarnier is the current No 1-ranked rider in the world and goes into the Games on the back of an outstanding season in which she won the Euskal Emakumeen Bira, Tour of California and Giro d'Italia stage races and the Philadelphia International Cycling Classic one-day race. She is an excellent climber and also has a strong sprint.

Anna van der Breggen is a strong climber

MARIANNE VOS

Age: 29. Nationality: Dutch. Sky Bet odds: 4/1.

Vos is the reigning Olympic champion and one of the greatest female cyclists in history. She missed almost all of the 2015 season through injury, but seven wins this year suggests she is close to getting back to her best form. However, team-mate Van der Breggen appears to be the better bet for the Dutch and so there is a chance Vos could drop into a supporting role.

EVELYN STEVENS

Age: 33. Nationality: American. Sky Bet odds: 12/1.

Stevens is the United States' second option for gold and goes into the Games in excellent form, having won three stages and finished second overall at last month's Giro d'Italia. She also finished second to Van Der Breggen at La Fleche Wallonne, which suggested she will be able to cope well with the steep gradients of the climb to Vista Chinesa.

Marianne Vos is the defending champion

OTHER ONES TO WATCH

- Emma Johansson (Swe): Good all-rounder enjoying a decent season. Sky Bet odds: 9/1

- Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Pol): Up-and-coming climbing talent. Sky Bet odds: 22/1

- Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Fra): Former world champion. Sky Bet odds: 20/1

Armitstead: I'm a clean athlete

Lizzie Armitstead discusses her missed drugs tests with Sky Sports News HQ

PAST WINNERS

2012: Marianne Vos (Ned).
2008: Nicole Cooke (GB).
2004: Sara Carrgian (Aus).
2000: Leontien Zijlaard (Ned).
1996: Jeannie Longo (Fra).

Vos beat Armitstead to gold at London 2012

SELECTED TEAMS AND RIDERS

Australia: Gracie Elvin, Katrin Garfoot, Rachel Neylan, Amanda Spratt.

Canada: Leah Kirchmann, Tara Whitten, Karol-ann Canuel.

France: Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, Audrey Cordon.

Germany: Lisa Brennauer, Romy Kasper, Claudia Lichtenberg, Trixi Worrack.

Great Britain: Lizzie Armitstead, Emma Pooley, Nikki Harris.

Italy: Elisa Longo Borghini, Elena Cecchini, Giorgia Bronzini, Tatiana Guderzo.

Netherlands: Anna van der Breggen, Marianne Vos, Ellen van Dijk, Annemiek van Vleuten.

Poland: Katarzyna Niewiadoma, Malgorzata Jasinska, Anna Plichta.

South Africa: Ashleigh Moolman, An-li Kachelhoffer.

Sweden: Emma Johansson, Emilia Fahlin, Sara Mustonen-Lichan.

United States: Megan Guarnier, Evelyn Stevens, Kristin Armstrong, Mara Abbott.