The top-three cyclists and International Cycling Union (UCI) declared themselves impressed with Rio 2016 road cycling course after Sunday’s test event – and predicted it will take a “great rider” to win the Olympic gold medal next year.

Seventy-three male riders from 15 nations competed along 164.9km of the Olympic circuit (at next year’s Games the men will compete over 241.5km on the same course), starting in Copacabana and finishing in São Conrado. The course features steep climbs – the highest being to 502m at Vista Chinesa in the Tijuca Forest, flat seaside roads and cobbled streets.  

Gold medallist Alexis Vuillermoz, of France, said: “It was an amazing race. The course is very challenging. There are a lot of very steep climbs and flat parts with wind, so it’s a very complete course, very difficult, and a beautiful course for the Olympic Games. The organisation of the event was very good, it was like a World Cup race. Everything was perfect.”

(L-R) Serge Pauwels, Alexis Vuillermoz and Romain Bardet on the podium (Photo: Rio 2016/Alex Ferro)

The silver medal was won by Belgium’s Serge Pauwels, who said he had learned valuable lessons from the event. “It’s a very hard circuit, so for sure it will be a great rider who wins here next year. Everything ran really smoothly and there were a lot of spectators as well.  It was a really good test and I hope to be here next year too. It will be all about getting in good shape for the climbing – I think the race next year will be won on the climbs and maybe on the descents. We had a fantastic view along the coast and there were a few moments when we could enjoy it.”

France also claimed the bronze medal through Romain Bardet, who finished ninth in this year’s Tour de France. “There was a big crowd along the way and it was really a pleasure to ride here. You could see the people here really like cycling. It was good to be here one year before the Olympics, to be able to discover the course.”

Fans cheer on the leaders in the final straight  in São Conrado (Photo: Rio 2016/Alex Ferro)

Matthew Knight, the head of road cycling at the UCI, declared himself pleased with the test event. “From the perspective of the UCI, we are very happy with the outcome,” he said. “The organisers did a fantastic job putting everything in place.”

Knight also highlighted the tough challenge presented by the course and predicted that teams would send their best climbers to compete for gold next year. “It’s a challenging course with many different sporting elements, from the cobbled section to the climb, to the descents, and in that respect Rio has something very special to offer, and we were able to bring that out in the course.

“I expect the national teams to analyse their data from this test event. It’s a very hard course and I think that will become known very quickly and a very specific high-level athlete will come to Rio in 2016. Really the best in the world, men and women, this course suits the best climbers in the world.”

Check out this video that mixes footage from the 360-degree video of the Rio 2016 road cycling course (which you can watch in full here) with stunning images of Rio:

Rio 2016 officials also reported themselves pleased with the test event. Rodrigo Garcia, director of sport, said: “It was exceptional. It allowed us to improve our operations, work with our volunteers and further train the competition management team. It was also very important in terms of integration with the city. To stage an event that requires more than 100km of road closures is not easy. Without working closely with the public authorities, it would be impossible. We are very happy with how it went.”

Gustavo Nascimento, venue management director, said the “The road cycling race will take place the day after the opening ceremony and will help establish the city of Rio as the Games host for the billions of people who watch on television. It will show the beauty of our city to the world.”

As well as the crowds that gathered to cheer on the cyclists at the start and finish, the athletes received support along the course. Up at Vista Chinesa, Argentine amateur cyclist Marcelo Tiesa stopped to watch the professionals speed past. “I’m really excited about the Rio Olympics,” he said. “It will be the first time it has been held in South America, and even though I’m not Brazilian, I feel great pride in this.”

Check out our video and gallery of the best images from the road cycling test event: