Olympics-Cycling-Mountain bike king Schurter ready for battle with road raiders

FILE PHOTO: Cycling - Tour de France - Stage 7 - Vierzon to Le Creusot - France - July 2, 2021 Mathieu van der Poel of the Netherlands in action before crossing the line of stage 7 Pool via REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

TOKYO (Reuters) - Mountain bike king Nino Schurter faces a formidable challenge to his Olympic crown from a couple of hungry young road warriors on Monday but says the Izu course gives him a shot at a second successive gold medal.

The 35-year-old Swiss has been a dominant force in mountain bikes since winning the first of his eight world titles in 2009 and in Rio claimed the Olympic crown after a bronze in Beijing and a silver medal in London.