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Olympic Champion Brownlee prepares for Rio test

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The Rio Olympic triathlon test event is set for this Sunday (2 August) with Olympic Champion, Alistair Brownlee lining up against a classy international field and being joined by Mark Buckingham, Adam Bowden, Aaron Harris and Tom Bishop.

Amongst the hot topics in the build up, the hilly Rio bike course is one of the most talked about. Asked about whether the bike field might split up and allow a break away attack, he said:

“I think all the ingredients are here for the peloton to be broken. A slightly rough water swim, a run up a beach and then a short run into quite a tough hill only within a few minutes of starting the bike; that’s pretty much all you could ask for in terms of breaking the group up in a race. It’s a good course and it encourages exciting racing.”

The other hot topic has been water quality at Copacabana Beach, but having swum around the course immediately before attending the press conference, Brownlee is keen just to focus on the event ahead, commenting:

“I think it’s an unfortunate fact that any inner city venue, and I think this is actually a brilliant venue for a triathlon, questions are always going to be asked.”

Summing up this weekend and next year’s challenge, he concluded: “This Olympics provides a very different challenge with not being at home, and having to travel to Rio on a different course and preparing for it in a different way, but that makes it exciting and interesting.

“It’s fantastic to be here at last and experience what the city is like and the course, and I’m looking forward to racing on it.”

The elite men’s race takes place at 12.30pm local time on Sunday. The women’s race is at the earlier time of 9am and features Helen Jenkins, Jodie Stimpson, India Lee, Non Stanford and Vicky Holland.

Tomorrow sees the world’s elite paratriathletes race on the Paralympic course staring from 9.30am. For a full preview click here.

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