Cycling: Stars aim to impress at home

Mar 26 2008 by Our Correspondent, Western Mail

GREAT BRITAIN’S cyclists – for so long one of the sport’s poor relations, the quaint amateurs from across the water next to the sleek professionals of continental Europe – are facing a new challenge as they prepare for the start of the track World Championships in Manchester.

Where previously they had been also-rans to the French, Italians, Belgians and Germans and where the gold medal won by Jason Queally at the Sydney Olympics seemed like a minor miracle, now the battle is in squashing expectations.

And, after last year’s worlds brought seven gold medals, a sense of public deflation will be hard to avoid unless the likes of Chris Hoy, Bradley Wiggins and Victoria Pendleton – not forgetting Wales’ Geraint Thomas – achieve something similar on home timber.

“It’s a new challenge for us, having to manage expectations externally,” admitted performance director Dave Brailsford.

Starting today and going on until Sunday, British spectators will file into the National Velodrome expecting to see local cyclists do well.

But, as much as the sport’s administrators are hoping for a publicity boost for cycling, for Brailsford the next five days are just one step of many on the road to Beijing.

“We want to be on top for the Olympics,” he added. “We’ve got a clear plan and we know what our strategy is for this year.

“And, if some people think we just need to turn up to win, they’ll get a shock.”

It is a view echoed by Hoy, although he will be trying to win a mere three golds this week.

“It’s important for cycling in his country that we do well – and for ourselves – but it’s not the be-all and end-all,” said the Scot.

All that said, it would be a surprise if Great Britain was not the world’s top cycling nation again at the end of the week.

In almost every event, you will find a cyclist in red, white and blue with legitimate medal ambitions and often the outright favourite for gold.