Two new Olympic champions are assured on Saturday in the men's and women's cycling time trial, which will also be an example of the gender equality at the Paris Olympic Games.

Neither of the defending champions from Tokyo are competing in Paris, with women's gold medal winner, Annemiek van Vleuten of the Netherlands having retired, while Slovenia's Primoz Roglic wasn't selected.

For the first time ever men and women race over the same course in a time-trail, with both tacking a 32.4-kilometer route, that takes in some of the best views of the City of Lights, starting and finishing at the Pont Alexandre III and including Notra-Dame, the Place de la Bastille, the Chateau de Vincennes and the south bank of the Seine.

Not that the 35 men and 35 women who are competing will have much time to enjoy the sights as they flash around a course that looks to be designed for speed, with only a minor height gain of 150 meters and a handful of technical curves that will serve to favor the best bike handlers.

The 32.4-kilometer course is the longest time trial that women have ever faced at the Olympic Games and the shortest ever the men have raced, which will be a blessing for Belgian duo of Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert (who is rumored to be testing a bike with two disc wheels) and who will also compete in the road race next week.

Reigning World Champion, Evenepoel is the favorite among the men, but can expect tough competition from Italy's Filippo Ganna. Ganna is a specialist in short time-trials and the shorter distance in Paris might work in his favor.

Britain's Josh Tarling could also be a contender, with the young rider commenting that the course could "suit" him.

In the women's race double world champion, Chloe Dygert has overcome illness and injury to be a competitor, with Australia's Grace Brown a major rival as she aims to end her career on a high note.

Emma Norsgaard of Denmark and the Netherlands' Ellen van Dijk are also clear medal options.

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