The British have poured money into track cycling to cement their reputation as kings of the fixed wheel race – but they’re not the only country investing in performance-improving technology.
Pavel Kelemen represented The Czech Republic in the sprint and finished a respectable 14th – we recently wrote about the technology he was training with. Pavel was the first to admit that he was disappointed, and talking after his race Pavel told journalists that “The English dudes sent it into space”.
It should be noted that if Jason Kenny wins the keirin it would mean that he’s equalled Sir Chris Hoy’s tally of six Olympic gold medals. And Kenny is still young enough that he could fight to retain his title in the Tokyo Olympics – home of the keirin. “If he can be bothered to get out of bed after Rio,” as Sir Bradley Wiggins noted.
Losing to Jason Kenny, who could go on to be Britain’s most successful Olympian, shouldn’t dishearten Pavel – but along with the rest of the world, The Czech Republic will need to rethink how they train their cyclists if they’re going to replace Britain kings of The Olympic Velodrome.
