Boardman raps long and winding road

Yellow jersey man Lance Armstrong is looking for gold

Sydney's cycling road race course is threatening to drive competitors round the bend.

British hero Chris Boardman has made no secret of his dislike for a course dubbed "The Bronte Bender", claiming: "I hate it with a passion."

The 15km circuit for Saturday's 48.6km time trial snakes around parkland roads and Boardman said: "The Olympic time trial needs more than this. It's not ideal, it's messy."

Boardman, who added a time trial bronze medal in Atlanta to the pursuit gold he won in Barcelona in 1992, said: "There are a lot of lumps and a lot of turns which will suit the road races in the time trial."

The Olympic time trial needs more than this. I hate it with a passion

  British cyclist Chris Boardman

According to Boardman that will favour the likes of Frenchman Laurent Jalabert and Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong of America.

But Armstrong has passed his own judgement on the circuit.

Lottery

The double Tour champion will first ride on it in Wednesday's 239.4km road race, and says: "It's going to be far more of a lottery than usual."

Despite his glorious wins in Le Tour Armstrong's sights are firmly set on Olympic gold, although the time trial is his preferred event.

The Texan's exploits on Europe's roads are still largely unrecognised back home and he reckons an Olympic gold is: "something Americans appreciate much more than a Tour victory".

Armstrong reckons Tour rival Jan Ullrich will be the man to beat.

Ullrich is at his best on the sort of town-to-town course found on Tour de France stages and Armstrong says: "I don't know if the course with all its turns will suit him."

Olympic gold is something Americans appreciate much more than a Tour victory

  Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong

But the German won the world time trial on a looping course in Treviso, Italy and Armstrong said: "I have great respect for him. If I should know anyone's split times it should be his."