Kiwi rowers eye Rio

Kiwi rowers eye Rio

You don't need a crystal ball to get a sense of how our rowers will do at Rio when you've got the Rowing World Cup.

The three days of racing are about to begin in Switzerland - it's the first and last time most of the major players will compete before the Olympics.

"This is probably the only opportunity we're going to get to race everyone and for us it's really just about seeing where they're at," said Mahe Drysdale.

Three big days of racing are upon our Olympic team, but it's what happens at the finish line on that final day that will be the true litmus test.

"I think you can read a fair bit into it," said Hamish Bond. "Certainly the crews winning out here I'd be surprised if they weren't in good form for Rio and challenging for the medals there."

It's the second of three World Cups - yes rowing has three - but in Olympic year some teams bail on the third to prepare for the Games.

"I think you want to look for crews being close. Whether you're first second or third that's not so important it's more the margins," noted Drysdale.

There will a be a lot of sideways glances here - it's the first major international outing since August last year and therefore the first chance to see what shape the competition's in.

So while mini-rowing-Rio is the best guess - there's only one Olympics, the one true test of who's best.

Newshub.