Spanish armada gears up to attack on road

BEIJING (Reuters) - Spain's talented road cycling team know they are favorites for Saturday's 245-km race to the Great Wall of China, but are heading into the Beijing Olympics with respect for their opponents and the heat.

Alejandro Valverde said on Tuesday he had not yet seen the difficult, hilly course but predicted a tough race. "From what I hear, it is going to be quite challenging," Valverde told reporters.

"Also, because of the conditions of the heat, humidity and pollution, it is going to be very demanding."

Spain has one of the strongest teams in the road cycling race, which takes place on Saturday and is one of the first medal events of the Beijing Olympics.

Valverde will be joined by this year's Tour de France winner Carlos Sastre; reigning Giro d'Italia champion Alberto Contador; this year's Tour sprint leader Oscar Freire and Samuel Sanchez.

"It is true, we are one of the most important teams in the race, but Germany and Italy are also strong," he added.

Germany's Stefan Schumacher and defending Olympic champion Paolo Bettini of Italy are two other favorites on Saturday.

Freire, who acknowledged that the hilly course did not favor sprinters, predicted that no team will able to control the race completely.

"I think here we are all mentally well prepared and everyone is going to try their best," he said.

Sanchez said this Olympics was special for the Spaniards.

"For many of us, it is the last time we will compete in the Olympic Games, so we will approach it with more intensity and more emotion," he said.

"Any one of the five of us could win a medal but .. the most important thing is that one of us wins for our country."

(Editing by Miles Evans)