KEY POINTS:
In his mind, New Zealand cyclist Julian Dean knows what he has to do, but he harbours no illusions how tough the Beijing Olympics road race will be.
But given the nature of one-day racing in which anything can happen, and usually does, Dean feels nothing is impossible if he is with the leading riders at the business end of the race, where he can call on his sprinting skills.
Dean is coming off a career-best performance at his fourth Tour de France - top 10 placings in six of the tour's 21-stages and ninth in the sprinters' overall standings for his Garmin Chipotle team.
"I have a bit more experience and confidence in my ability this time," said Deans who placed 15th at the Athens Olympics and ninth in the 2005 world championships in Spain.
"But Athens and Beijing are going to be two completely different races," Dean told NZPA from his home in Gandia, Southern Spain.
"Athens was a race that suited me really well, (but) on paper, Beijing doesn't look like a course that suits me well.
"A top 10 would be a great result... (but) if I'm up there near the end, I'll be going for the win because I think it'll only be a small group of 12 to 15 riders coming to the finish."
The 248km men's road race will be on August 9. The course starts with an 80km ride from Beijing's Forbidden City to the Great Wall before turning into a 24km circuit which the field of 145 will have to lap seven times.
The race will take in famous scenic spots such as the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, Lama Temple, Temple of Earth Park and the Summer Place.
The lowest and highest elevation of the course is 40.179 metres and 650.85m respectively.
The most punishing aspect is its persistently undulating nature which gives the advantage to the climbers or "mountain goats".
"I expect the race to unfold in last five to 10km. When I look at the course, I sort of visualise in my mind the last time going up the final climb and the race is sort of splitting up.
"Certainly, someone like myself won't be at the front (then) but if I'm among the bunch, I have a chance when it comes together a little bit on the descent - that'll be my opportunity."
In a battle of attrition, New Zealand will not have the numbers to try to dictate the race.
Australia, Belgium, Spain, France, Germany, the United States and Italy have qualified a full quota of five riders each, while Britain, Norway and Slovenia will have four-man teams.
New Zealand have just three riders with Tim Gudsell and Glen Chadwick supporting Dean.
"Planning or executing strategy for the race will not be a problem as we are all used to racing for different teams and using different tactics," Dean said.
The strongest team looked to be Spain who produced the last three winners of the Tour de France in Carlos Sastre (2008), Alberto Contador (2007) and Oscar Pereiro (2006). Contador also won this year's Giro d'Italia.
Dean expected Alejandro Valverde to also be in the Spanish line-up.
"The Spanish have a lot of (tactical) possibilities with good climbers such as Sastre and Contador, a great sprinter in Pereiro while Valverde can cross over between the two a little bit.
"Italian defending champion Paolo Bettini is a great one-day rider and can rise to any occasion also," Dean said.
Dean said after the Tour de France, he would need to bring a different mind-set to Beijing.
There was no use thinking too much about it at the moment except to get some training under his belt before he heads to Beijing on Monday.
" From all accounts it will be quite a difficult course - once I get to Beijing and have a look at it, we'll figure out a plan as to how best to approach the race.
"It's still a one-day race and no one really knows what is going to happen. You just have to be up there in position and be prepared for anything."
- NZPA
