LIZZIE Armitstead is bracing herself for a "brutal" course in the cycling road race at this summer's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Otley's world champion will go for gold in the women's race on August 7, when the riders will tackle a 130.3km route starting and finishing in the city and heading out along the coast.

The route includes a number of climbs, with gradients reaching 13 per cent, as well as a short section of cobbles, but it has a flat finish on Flamengo Beach.

"It's pretty brutal," Armitstead said of the route. "It's a climber's course. You need to see it to believe it. People watch a video and think it doesn't look too bad, but the video doesn't show it.

"It's just really, really difficult, so it's a case of surviving for me and getting back in on the descent into Rio."

Armitstead, who took silver in the women's road race in London in 2012 behind Dutch rider Marianne Vos, got a first-hand look at the Rio course when British Cycling took her along to a men's test event in August.

Travelling in the support car alongside men's coach Rod Ellingworth, who doubles as performance manager for Team Sky, allowed her to gain extra insight into the challenge ahead.

"It was really useful because I saw where riders were getting dropped and getting back on, and having Rod there, he's directed a lot of big races so it was really good."

The 27-year-old also noted there will be one or two challenges unique to Rio on the course.

"The last climb has this favela on it which is meant to be the most dangerous in the world," she said.

"When you're riding up a steep climb and there's a favela on your right which has got drug lords in it, you're thinking, 'I need to go faster' but you can't. Just don't get a flat (tyre)..."

But the trip in August last year calmed her fears about the climate, with the cool sea breeze helping a rider who admits to struggling in the heat, meaning she now need only worry about the climbing.

Armitstead will fly to Rio as late as possible before the race, but in the spirit of marginal gains, she will get an upgrade to her air fare.

"It'll be my first business flight ever," she said. "British Cycling are taking me business, so hopefully I'll land and I'll feel fantastic."

For now Armitstead remains focused on her preparations, having started the year with three wins from four starts – and showing that the world champion's rainbow jersey can be an inspiration rather than a burden.

Her recent Tour de Yorkshire debut also served as a welcome distraction from that Olympic build-up, with this year's women's race setting off from her home-town in what she described as a "goose pimple moment".

An unsuccessful charge for glory on the 136.5km route to Doncaster did little to dampen spirits on a day to remember for the Yorkshire rider.

"The start was brilliant," said Armitstead. "I had a couple of bike problems to begin with which was difficult but it was a goose pimple moment for me at the beginning to be supported by my community.

"It's not something I ever thought would happen to me – to start a race in my home town and as world champion – both are a surprise and a bonus."

Victory in Yorkshire was never a priority however.

Following her world road race triumph in Richmond, Virginia last year, one 'race' has dominated Armitstead's thoughts.

“Rio is the big one," she added. "That's been my full focus for the season.

"It’s such a challenge staying relaxed and fresh, and not travelling too much, which is always difficult, and double-difficult when as a world champion. You have to try to manage that expectation.

“People feel it’s their duty to tell you when you should be racing and what races you should be in and when you should be winning them.

"So it's been different for me in the rainbow jersey, learning how to hold off that pressure.

"I do feel the added pressure, but I like it and I need that to perform. I think it’s a positive thing for me and I’ve always performed well under pressure, which should also help in Rio when it comes to the big moments.”

She added: "Living in Monaco I get 1,000 metres of climbing without having to think about it on fairly easy rides. It’s the same when I'm back in Yorkshire, just the weather is not quite the same!

"The weather in Yorkshire doesn’t quite replicate how it will be in Rio either!”