Tough choices for Team GB cyclists after schedule released

The Olympic track cycling competition schedulers may not have done Team GB any favours when it comes to the prospect of striking gold in the newly added omnium event.

With the men's team pursuit scheduled for the first two days of the competition, Britain’s omnium world champion Ed Clancy is unlikely to be in peak condition for the event on the second and third days, if as anticipated he is selected for the pursuit team.

The omnium is considered the greatest test of all-round track cycling abilities, being comprised of five events: a 200m flying start time trial, 5 km scratch race, 3 km individual pursuit, 15 km points race and a 1 km time trial.

When Clancy became world champion in Denmark last year he had the benefit of two days rest. He knows, however, that there can be a price to be paid for cramming in too many events in too short a period.

He finished fourth in the omnium at the European Championships last year, and said:
“It was exhausting, I hope the endurance events are put at either end of the Olympic schedule but if they are not, there will be some tough choices for a few people, myself included.”

Tough choices indeed.