Rio de Janeiro, Aug 11 (IANS): Rio 2016 Olympic Games organisers have changed the time and route of Sunday's Olympic road cycling test event to avoid clashing with a planned protest.
The International Road Cycling Challenge is one of 45 test events being held as Rio prepares for the first Olympics in South America, Xinhua reported on Monday.
Cyclists will now begin the event at Copacabana beach at 8:30 a.m., an hour earlier than originally scheduled. Protesters have planned to gather at the location later in the day.
Instead of finishing in Copacabana, the event will now end at Sao Conrado beach, further southwest, the city prefecture said in a statement.
Cyclists from 20 countries are expected to compete in the 165 km event, which also passes through the neighbourhoods of Ipanema, Leblon, Vidigal, Barra da Tijuca, Recreio, Prainha, Grumari and Guaratiba.