How did we do in 2012?

I get a bit confused but was that the event where our girls got knocked out early due to a fall?

Feel overall cycling won't be as successful in Rio as it has been in the past.

As expected - to their credit, they went sub-33, which they've generally not done at sea-level in this cycle (the James of 2013 would still have made a difference today, I'm sure).
The Guardian claimed they needed to be two places ahead of France today for a Rio berth; well, they are, but apparently it's not enough. We won't know the full breakdown until Monday, I guess.

CHN v RUS could produce the first ever sub-32 later tonight...

Generally speaking, not a surprise as man three has been a disaster throughout this cycle (above 13.5 again). That said, what did surprise me was that they came sixth even though Hindes opened with 17.030 (!) - the fastest-ever opening lap at sea-level, FFS.

Will interesting to see if the sea-level best of 42.6 is threatened by NZL or NED.

They were on for a medal but were DQFed in the semis. You may remember the whole thing turned into a bit of a farce because the gold medal was also decided by a DQF.

The men's team pursuit is looking like they might just repeat the miracles of 2008 & 2012 - we never won a single World (or Commonwealth) gold during the period between the games, then almost out of nowhere won that year's World Champs and the subsequent Olympics.

GB and CHN team sprint women in London 2012 were relegated, not DQ'd. Relegated teams are still given a position in the race in question (otherwise China would not have been awarded a medal; GB were technically 2nd in their race).

Theoretically, the two losers (from those above) in tomorrow's '1st round' might not even make the bronze medal final; between them and the 5th-8th place qualifiers, it's the two fastest regardless of race position that do so. Last year, AUS won bronze despite qualifying in fifth place.

Just noticed in the men's TS qualifying round that France (3rd) and GB (6th) were just 20 hundredths apart. Man three - the gift that keeps on giving...

-----

Same GB quartet in tomorrow's men's TP 1st round, according to the startlist. Would have thought Clancy would replace one of them.

So there's no GB interest in tonight's finals ?

might watch the footie then.......

I assume we have someone in the scratch race though which should be over by the time the football kicks off

Quite an A Team on the Red Button - Claire Balding and Chris Hoy presenting with Simon Brotherton and Chris Boardman commentating

That is it, Chris Latham in the Scratch race.

Good day for Scott Thwaites in a very hard man's race, the GP Le Samyn - a hard-won second place solo run behind Nicky Terpstra.

Following on from Jason Kenny, Marchant and Varnish lash out at the BC coaching: http://www.skysports.com/cycling/new...nt-at-olympics

Aww.......what a lovely medal ceremony .........

3 smashing smiley girls, the winner dropping her earrings pulling the jersey on, lots of laughing, singing the anthem........then the tears.......

lovely.......

Sorry, I meant TWO hundredths...or 20 thousandths, if you prefer.

The winner's average speed in the men's scratch race was 54.204km/h (!), enough to make Boardman wince. Apparently said winner (Sebastian Mora of Spain) rides for British outfit Raleigh.

China win the women's team sprint...but there is talk of relegation! (Again, at a global champs on the same track?!)

Now confirmed!!

Yeah,it looks to me that there's too much time serving and complacency in the track squad at the moment while most of the best people are working on road teams. There's no way they should have been fielding a B squad at the Europeans when everyone knew it was a key Olympic qualifying event.

so Im guessing they are talking about Rosie Blount then,who went to the Euros in 2014, but has since left the cycling academy programme completely. Jess was left out of that Euro 2014 squad for some reason, I dont think it was injury related.

tbh though its a 2 year qualification system, the real problem is the coaches only seem to have settled on a pairing within the last 6months, and the first final theyd made in that 2 years was probably the last track world cup round.

Not good for team morale if there's open criticism of the team management. Though better to have honesty and get the issues resolved than the typical political style arse covering that you'll hear. Even Hoy avoided the question saying it was emotion talking. He'd make a great diplomat/politician!

I do find it strange (and how neutral can a person really be) that GB and AUS have the Sutton brothers in key positions of each team. AUS are in the type of shape GB were in 2012. Come back Brailsford, we need you!

Not looking good for Rio. The gold haul on the track will be way down on 2012. As Boardman said, it's good for the sport that one country isn't so dominant. Not good for GB's medal tally though.

Hoping Becky James can get some of her 2013 world champion form back in time for Rio. She's in the Kierin today I think they said.

I doubt any nation is that dominant this year, though that depends on how the next four days pan out. In any case, they're in good nick.

Looking back through the records, the problem seems to be that although they beat the French and the Dutch here, they were losing to them all through the last two years. But I think the criticism is still valid, you make sure of your Olympic place first, then start experimenting. It's up to the coaches to do the sums, not the riders.

Maybe some of the problem has been due to the quality of the individuals available for selection not being ready or fit to challenge for the top spots.

There's been some big injuries affecting the team, along with the natural weakening when Hoy and Pendleton retired. Not been a smooth transition and a solid first team choice to keep the consistency high.

Hoy was talking about a new initiative to find youngsters (teens to early 20s) with potential as sprinters, where the strength in depth doesn't appear to be at the moment. Hopefully that will pay dividends for Tokyo in 2020 if some of the younger ones we have at the moment don't fulfil their potential.

Sprinting is really a difficult event because unless you are at the very very top you don't make much of a living beyond lottery funding. There's any number of people willing to do endurance because it's now the best gateway to a career as a road cyclist (the other being slogging away as an amateur in Belgium), but track sprint is a dead end outside the major championships.

That's a shame.

They should let lottery players choose the area their money goes to. Might get more playing if they know they're helping fund specific sports or future Team GB members (or wherever their interest lies) rather than the money going to places they have no control over.

I did wonder after 2012 why there doesn't appear to be a proper donation site for supporting those who rely on sponsorship and grants to pay for their efforts. I think the nearest I found was a UK Sport charity but it doesn't let individuals donate to specific sports or individuals, so like the lottery fund it's down to others to decide who or what is worthy.

Though if it was left to donations via the internet, GB would probably end up with a champion beach volleyball team and not much else.

Gaah! Women's Team Pursuit squad are only 5th! Something must have gone badly wrong in the final kilometer because we had been 2nd all throughout the early splits and went a whole 4 seconds down by the end.

Front two managed to drop the third and four place riders.....

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/gb...clingteam-live

Outside chance of bronze only.

Crikey. Didn't expect it to be Rowsell that couldn't keep up with Trott and Barker.

Maybe we shouldn't expect them to be on top form if they're aiming to peak for Rio. Aussies 'struggled' in fourth and they are or were head and shoulders in front of everyone else not long ago.

GB are missing an injured (yet to come back) Katie Archibald too so maybe all isn't that bad for Rio and we'll still be a gold/silver contender.

They usually use Rowsell as a battering ram in the first 2K and expect her to be dropped at some point, but obviously the changes have gone wrong here.

Matthew Crampton fifth in the Kilo, and Becky James only into the Repechage of the Keirin, so not much going right today. Our only consolation is that the Aussies are also a bit off their game.

Here comes the men's team pursuit to cheer us all up.

And the GBR men team pursuit qualify for the final - a shade less fast than the Aussies, but seem to have dialed back on the final 1000 judging by the extent they were up on the splits. Denmark qualified for the bronze ride from 5th, so there is hope for our women.

Trotty !!!!!!!



what a girl........she's brilliant.......

Just how good is Laura Trott?

As exciting as her elimination races.