The UCI has announced the National Olympic Committees that have qualified for the men's and women's road races at the Olympic Games to be held in Tokyo from July 24 to August 9. 130 athletes will compete in the men's road race and 67 in the women's road race.

The men's elite road race will start at Musashino Forest Park and finish at Fuji Speedway on July 25. The national teams of Belgium, Colombia, France, Italy, and the Netherlands will take the starting line with the largest number of five riders.

The 234-km route favors climbers and tackles four climbs: the Donussi Road and Kagosaka Pass, as well as the outer rim of Mt. Fuji, for a total of 4,865 meters.

Belgium's Greg van Avermaat is the defending champion, winning gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics. The national team has yet to be determined, although this route may be more suitable for athletes such as Egan Bernal (Colombia), Thibaut Pinot (France), and Vincenzo Nibali (Italy).

Countries that have secured four players per team include Australia, Denmark, England, Germany, Norway, Slovenia, and Switzerland. Countries that secured three players per team include Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Poland, South Africa, and Russia. All other competing countries received one or two slots per team.

On July 26, the elite women's 137 km road race will be held, starting at Musashino Forest Park and finishing at Fuji Speedway. The women's course does not cross Mt. Fuji, but includes climbs on the Donussi Highway and Kagosaka Pass, for a total distance of 2,692 m.

The women's race will have 67 riders, with Australia, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United States being the countries with the most competitors per team. Each of these countries secured a total of four athletes.

Anna van der Breggen (Netherlands) is the defending champion, having won gold in Rio. Other strong contenders would include world champion Annemiek van Grooten (Netherlands), Amanda Spratt (Australia), Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy), and Katie Hall (USA).

Belgium was the only country to secure three slots in the women's road race, while Canada, Denmark, Spain, Great Britain, Japan, Norway, Poland, and South Africa secured two per team. All other competing countries secured one slot.

Up to two slots are available for the elite men's 44.2 km and elite women's 22.1 km individual time trial on July 29.

Countries that have reached the maximum number of slots for men include Australia, Belgium, Spain, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Poland, Switzerland, and the United States. All other competing countries received one slot.

In the women's time trial, Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States will start with two competitors, while the other competing countries will start with one.

In Rio, the retired Kristin Armstrong (USA) and Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland) won gold medals. In the time trial in Tokyo, Annemiek van Grooten (Netherlands) and world champion Chloe Diggart (USA) are the favorites to win the women's race, while world champions Rohan Dennis (Australia) and Tom Dumoulin (Netherlands) are the favorites for the men's race. However, the national team has yet to be determined.

According to the road cycling Olympic qualifying system calendar, national Olympic committees must confirm the number of slots used by December 15, 2019, before the UCI reallocates the remaining slots.