Tom Pidcock, the reigning cross-country Olympic mountain bike champion, has said the course for his title defence in Paris is "bland" and "just gravel".
The 24-year-old spent time completing a recon of the course in Élancourt Hill, 25 miles west of Paris, on Wednesday. The site counts the highest point in the Paris region, at 231m, and consists of manmade gravel switchbacks.
