Olympic cycling 2016 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch the men’s road race online

The men’s road race at the 2016 Olympics in Rio is the perfect Tour de France chaser, a little nip to satisfy those lingering pangs from yet another Chris Froome dominated race. Froome will be a favorite again, but not the favorite of what should be a chaotic one-day race. The road race -- with 144 competitors from more than 60 countries -- begins at 8:30 a.m. ET with online coverage streaming live via NBC Sports.

The 150.1-mile (241.5-kilometer) course begins and ends at Fort Copacabana. It opens with a lengthy stretch along the coast that features cobbles. Not Paris-Roubaix-esque cobbles, mind you -- these are relatively flate -- but rough enough that, combined with potential crosswinds off the Atlantic, riders should be weary to avoid an early crash.

The decisive points moments of the race should come in the two circuits. The first, four loops around the 25-kilometer Grumari circuit, should cull the peleton with two (times four) short, punchy climbs. The second, three loops around the 25.7-kilometer Vista Chinesa circuit, should determine the winner, climbing the Estrada das Canoas then, after a short descent, taking on the Vista Chinesa. All told it’s a vertical gain of 635 meters with gradients hitting 20 (!) percent in stretches. Not to be overlooked is a very narrow, technical descent from the top that will be harrowing on tired legs.

Here’s the profile, courtesy of Podium Cafe:

Some countries have as many as five cyclists participating in the men’s road race, but the United States will only have two in Brent Bookwalter and Taylor Phinney, who is this year’s national time trial champion and finished fourth in 2012 London road race. The last time an American earned a medal in the men’s road race was 1984, when Alexi Grewal won gold in Los Angeles.

Unfortunately for Phinney, Saturday’s climb-heavy course could rule him out in favor of some more recognizable names for anyone who paid attention to the 2016 Tour. Froome is an obvious one if he’s properly recovered from his trip to France. He’ll have a strong team Great Britain riding with him in Stephen Cummings, Ian Stannard, Geraint Thomas and Adam Yates.

Vincenzo Nibali of Italy, Romain Bardet and Julian Alaphilippe of France, Alejandro Valverde and Joaquim of Rodriguez of Spain and Greg Van Avermaet of Belgium are some of the bigger names to watch, but really, as is often the case in one-day racing, there may be 20 or more riders with plausible podium ambitions. Saturday’s race should be a lot of fun to watch.

Here’s the streaming information for the men’s road race at the 2016 Olympics in Rio:

All times Eastern

Events: Men’s road race, starting at 8:30 a.m. and continuing at 12 p.m.

TV: NBC (8:30 a.m, 10:30 a.m.)

Online streaming: NBC Sports Stream 1 (8:30 a.m.), Stream 2 (12 p.m.)