The 31st Olympiad continues apace with some of the biggest athletes in the world taking their bow in Rio. American swimmers Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky go for gold, as does the controversial figure of Lizzie Armitstead who will attempt to add the Olympic road race title to her world championship gold.

Where to watch

Live coverage and highlights of the action is available on BBC One, BBC Two and BBC Four throughout the day and into the early hours. There are also updates available via BBC Radio Five live.

Events to watch

The most decorated Olympian in history, Michael Phelps, will attempt to add a 19th gold to his collection in the men's 4x100m freestyle relay final as part of Team USA. The Americans could start the gold rush in the pool on day two when Katie Ledecky goes in the women 400m freestyle.

Michael Phelps
Phelps will hope to add to his 18 Olympic golds in the relay. Reuters

Also in the water, Adam Peaty will hope to build on his world record performance in the men's 100m breaststroke by adding Olympic gold to his world title. Ross Murdoch is also a contender for a medal having won world championship bronze in the same event last year.

Perhaps the most anticipated medal of the Games from an American perspective comes in the women's gymnastic all-around final where the 'fierce five''s 2016 incarnation, led by Simone Biles who is going for a quintet of golds in Rio, are huge favourites to retain their title from London

Briton to watch

Lizzie Armitstead will try to add Olympic gold to her road race world title when she competes on the second day of competition, but that is just the start of the story for the Brit. The 27-year-old has this week faced questioned over her credibility after it emerged she had survived being suspended for missing three drugs tests in a 12-month period.

Armitstead appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to have the first missed test removed from her records in order to compete on Sunday [7 August]. Yet questions remain over why she allowed herself to miss two further tests plus why the case was kept quiet throughout the appeal process.

Lizzie Armitstead
Armitstead won silver at London 2012 - but her world has turned upside down in the last four years. Reuters

As the world champion from Richmond and the Commonwealth gold medallist from Glasgow, Armitstead is the women's to beat in Rio. However, she faces competition from the Netherlands if she is to go one better from London - when she won Team GB's first medal after claiming silver.

Marianne Vos overhauled Armitstead on The Mall four years ago and is the defending champion, but her toughest test may come from Anna van der Breggen took silver in the same event at the world championships. A four-strong Dutch team should put both riders in prime position for the finish.

Schedule highlights - All times BST

  • Women's road race - Lizzie Armitstead (4:15pm)
  • Men's 100m breaststroke - Adam Peaty and Ross Murdoch (02:53am)
  • Women's 400m freestyle - Katie Ledecky (03:01am)
  • Men's 4x100m freestyle relay - Michael Phelps (03:54am)