Tuesday 30 March 2010

London 2012 Olympics: GB track cycling analysis and predictions

Telegraph Sport looks at the performance of the British team at the World Track Cycling Championships in Copenhagen and ahead to their prospects for the London 2012 Olympics.

Men's sprint: Sir Chris Hoy remains Great Britain's best bet but the Sprint cycling world is clearly beginning to gang up on him. He qualified second fastest here in Copenhagen with yet another sub second ten ride in the flying 200m and clearly still has the legs. Got badly caught out tactically, however, by Robert Fostermann in the first round and won't make that mistake again. Matt Crampton can beat anybody in the mood but lacks consistency, a criticism that can perhaps also be levelled at Jason Kenny. 2010 WC: Three quarter-finalists. London 2012 prediction: Hoy silver

Men's team sprint: much work to do but not without hope. A serious back injury to lead-out man Jamie Staff has hampered progress but Kenny made a good fist of the role in Copenhagen. If Staff cannot return the hunt is on to find the rider best able to fill the number two role. That could be Crampton with Hoy at three but David Daniell is an unusal talent GB are trying to bring into play, a kilo rider who is nearly an out and out sprinter. If he could find an extra gear in the next two years he could make a big contribution. 2010 WC: Bronze. London 2012 prediction: Silver

Women's sprint: Victoria Pendleton, with her fifth world title in six years, still reigns supreme and as long as she can stay sharp mentally and free from injury the world is her oyster. The prospect of "doing a Hoy" at London and competing in three events is the juiciest of carrots. Neither Jess Varnish or Becky James are yet in her class but in fairness nobody else in the world is either. 2010 WC: Pendleton gold. London 2012 prediction: Pendleton gold

Women's team sprint: there is a big medal to be won here but GB have got to find somebody to launch Pendleton onto the final lap. Jess Varnish has tried, Vicky James could develop quickly but the return of Shanaze Reade from the BMX circuit would seem the most likely solution. Even that is problematical though because the cycling programme has not yet been formalised and if the BMX comes first - with the ever present risk of crashes and injury - Great Britain might decide that including Reade in the team sprint sprint programme is too much of a risk. WC 2010: Fourth. London 2012 prediction: Bronze

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