Olympics-Cycling-Mountain bike king Schurter ready for battle with road raiders

Mountain bike king Nino Schurter faces a formidable challenge to his Olympic crown from a couple of hungry young road warriors on Monday but says the Izu course gives him a shot at a second successive gold medal.

The 35-year-old Swiss has been a dominant force in mountain bikes since winning the first of his eight world titles in 2009 and in Rio claimed the Olympic crown after a bronze in Beijing and a silver medal in London.Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel and Britain's Tom Pidcock, who earn their livings on the professional road circuit despite a background in cross-country, are both strongly fancied for victory on Monday. But Schurter believes he has an edge.

Ineos Grenadiers rider Pidcock, 21, claimed his first World Cup win at Nove Mestre this year and had arranged his season to focus on the mountain bike event in Tokyo.He did suffer a setback though when he was struck by a car and broke his collarbone in training. He only flew to Tokyo four days before his race, although he left the Tour after eight stages to re-familiarise himself with riding off road.

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