Originally Posted by
sgrundy
I don't think weight is the main issue. I don't think he'll have the endurance. There's a trade off between maximal power and endurance, and track sprinters train to maximize the first and minimize the second. Endurance training causes the interconversion of fast twitch muscle fibers from type II to type I, which means that while they don't fatigue as quickly, they aren't as explosive. That's why track sprinters spend barely any time on the bike outside of the velodrome.
Bos has been talking about the switch since last year and has been training outside a lot recently, there are a few YouTube vids of Bos training on the road bike.
Plus, he's a star working with some big name coaches who can help him reach his track peak for the Olympics and then taper and work on endurance. His fitness is there, and endurance is easy to train for, especially for a disciplined rider like Bos.