Henrique Avancini (Cannondale Factory Racing) – Aquece Rio – Rio 2016, Brasil

What is your opinion on the course presented for the next year Olympic Games? Specially comparing to the courses we know from the World Cup.

I’m really happy and satisfied with what was presented on the Test Event. They might make some change on the start and finish straight, but the course it’s just great.
It’s going to be spectacular for the media coverage and public.

Comparing to the World Cup courses, it has a better flow, a bit faster and it’s way more „plastic”. To be honest, if we had this kind of course as a normal standard for the World Cups, the XCO would be on another level today. The races should be more tight and more exciting for everyone involved.

If you look back on the 2015 season which was your personal best success and which race you will remember?

I had a great start. Made some good results and some wins. The highlight was to win the Panamerican Continental Championship. But in April I had a serious injury on my left foot, and I strugled a lot with that for a long time.

In the end of the season I started to find a good shape again. I finished 26th at the Worlds, witch it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t the goal to have this result as the best at world level.
At the Test Event I had a good feeling, and was important to end the season feeling good.

Anyway I’m looking forward to a way more expressive season in 2016.

Now most of the riders are going for well-deserved holidays. When you are going to be back on the bike?

I still have one more to go. I’ll race the Brasil Ride, with a boy from my development team, and the goal is to make a consistent race, but I don’t want to push too much. Later I have a break and usually I jump on the bike in the end of November.

Do you know already where and when you will start the 2016 season?

I already discussed few things with my coach and CFR, but I’m not sure yet.
Anyway, I’ll put all my energy at the Olympic Games, so I’m not worried to start the season spinning fast legs.

Photo: Rio 2016 / Paolo Mumia