Australian track cycling team bosses admit they have plenty of work to do if they are to be competitive enough to challenge world-beating Britain at the 2016 Games in Rio.
For the second consecutive Olympics Australia was humiliated by an all-conquering British team, securing only one gold medal courtesy of a final day surge from Anna Meares to finish second in the table.
Despite rules changes limiting each nation to one rider per event, Britain equalled their record haul from Beijing by winning seven of the 10 golds on offer for a total of nine.
Had it not been for Meares’ win over Victoria Pendleton in the sprint onf Tuesday it would have been eight golds for the hosts.
Four months after a string of performances at the Melbourne world championships which suggested the gap between Britain and the chasing pack was minimal, the hosts left their rivals in their wake.
Australian track cycling’s high performance director Kevin Tabotta attributed Britain’s dominance to home support.
“There’s been a bit of thought as to how the gap has become so big since Melbourne, but a lot of it does come down to home crowd,” said Tabotta, noting also that Britain had timed their peak to perfection.
“They’re a very well prepared team, there’s no doubt about that,” he added.
“They peak for one week, every four years – and they do it better than anyone else in the world.
“They put a lot of energy to peaking in the one week and they’re the masters of it. And it’s up to us to work out how they do it and take them on at their own game. We’ve got some work to do, but so does every other nation.
“We’ve just got to go back and work harder and come at them in 2016.”
Tabotta added: “Our worst result this week was fifth place out of 10 events, so we had to scrap for everything.
“So the five medals aren’t exactly what we were after at the start of the week, but we’re happy that we’re in the game with every event.”
Blando
Roar Rookie
Maybe it can be explained by the 'really round wheels' that Dave Brailsford talked about. Funnily enough, the French team bought the joke and are 'very interested in their methods'. Put at its most basic form, the British cycling system employs the best coaches, cherry picks the best potential cyclists and uses their vast money from lottery funding and corporate sponsorship to its fullest extent - including using F1 technology in testing new bikes and materials. The usual quip about drugs is way off the mark, with the testing procedures being the strictest they've ever been.
Tom Callaghan
Guest
How does Kevin Tabotta explain GBs supremacy over Australian cyclists in Melbourne in 2012?
Tom Callaghan
Guest
Oh look Betty love, The 'B' in Betty B must stand for bitter! You've got to admit ,too,that Meares only got the one-not three-golds she wanted because she barged Pendleton in the first ride. Cycling isn't the only sport in which Britaiain has 'punctured' Australian hopes.
Sky Blue Ram
Guest
Who knows Betty B, but I'll wager you never asked that question when Aussie sportsmen and woman were dominating. Take it on the chin, we're better than you (for the time being).
EcstaticBrit
Guest
Betty B Possibly. But then again being the impartial observer that you undoubtedly are you will no doubt be asking the same question with regards to Meares and Pearson's outstanding performances on the track. So what conclusions have you drawn?
Betty B
Guest
Are the Brit cyclists performances enhanced by drugs?