Day 2 at the Rio Olympics velodrome will see Australian flag bearer Anna Meares team up with Stephanie Morton in the women’s team sprint while Great Britain go in as favourites in the men’s team pursuit. Join The Roar for live coverage from 5am (AEST).
There are two gold medals up for grabs with the women’s team sprint and men’s team pursuit up for grabs.
The men’s team pursuit had their qualifications yesterday with Great Britain’s team of Bradley Wiggins, Ed Clancy, Steven Burke and Owain Doull topping the leaderboard in a time of 3:51:943.
They will go up against New Zealand in the round races, while the other spots in the top four were taken by Australia’s team of Jack Bobridge, Michael Hepburn, Alexander Edmondson and Sam Welsford and Denmark who will square off in heat three.
The other qualifiers who will appear in the heats are Italy, Germany, Switzerland and China.
The other gold medal which will be claimed today comes in the women’s team sprint, with nine teams down for participation. Unlike the team pursuit, because it is over just two laps of the velodrome all three legs of the competition will be on the one day meaning there is no form guide to go off.
Australia’s team of Meares and Morton will come in with a chance of medalling in the event, but will face tough competition from other teams such as Russia, China, Germany, the Netherlands and France.
At the recent world championships in London, it was the Russian team of Daria Shmeleva and Anastasia Voynova who took home the gold after the Chinese team of Gong Jinjie and Zhong Tianshi were relegated. They had qualified fastest however.
In the bronze medal race, Miriam Welte and Kristina Vogel riding for Germany, outraced the Australians, but it was a performance below their best and they will be looking to go a step or two better here.
Also on will be the early exchanges of the men’s individual sprint – Jason Kenny of Great Britain walks into this race as the favourite, but he will be challenged strongly by Australian Matthew Glaetzer, Jeffrey Hoogland of the Netherlands and Denis Dmitriev of Russia.
Regardless, it is only qualification so we will have a much better idea about what to expect tomorrow after they take to the track.
Prediction
Hard to go past Great Britain in the team pursuit – Meares and Morton should medal in the women’s team sprint but it won’t be gold with the Germans taking the crown while the Aussie men should handle themselves ok in the sprint but ultimately it’s hard to see Kenny not being the fastest qualifier there.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage from 5am (AEST) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde
delbeato
Roar Guru
We broke the WR in that ride. The Aussie pursuiters can hold their heads high. It's the blue ribbon event of track cycling and they were up against the best of the best - including Wiggo who is a freak.
delbeato
Roar Guru
Yeah Bobba didn't look at full strength
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
Hardly disappointing. We were not expected to win.
Brendon Vella
Roar Guru
Great TP final. Didn't expect that time from the Aussies. Bobridge only getting through 2 kilometres was interesting to say the least. Wiggins has now won a medal at the past 4 Olympics.
delbeato
Roar Guru
All about the TP for me. What a ride by both teams. So proud of the Aussies there. So close against a GB team that look on top of their game.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this morning for The Roar's live coverage of the 2016 Rio Olympics and Day 2 on the track as Great Britain won the men's team pursuit from Australia and China picked up the women's team sprint. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage. There will be more action from the velodrome tomorrow morning on The Roar so be sure to join us for that from 5am (AEST). In the meantime, there is an absolute stack of sport on both in Rio and here at home. Basketball, swimming, hockey, tennis, water polo, athletics, NRL, AFL, Cricket. It's all happening so be sure to keep a look out. That reminds me - i'm off to cover USA v Serbia in the Basketball. You can join me here - http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/08/13/usa-vs-serbia-rio-olympics-basketball-live-blog/ Bye for now.
Bob
Guest
We couldn't buy a gold at the moment, and not just in the Cycling. Very disappointing over the last few days.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Roarers, thoughts on the morning of cycling?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Britain have three men but the third struggling to hang on. They have three tenths at the bell but they will do it in world record pace! 3:50:265 and what a final that was! WORLD RECORD and GOLD MEDAL Great Britain Average speed of over 60km/h and that was some sort of race. Men's Team Pursuit final rankings 1. Great Britain (world record, gold medal) 2. Australia (silver medal) 3. Denmark (bronze medal) 4. New Zealand 5. Germany 6. Italy 7. Switzerland 8. China
Scott Pryde
Expert
Great Britain now down by 2 hundredths of a second with 750 metres to go! They still have four and with 500 to go they take the lead by a hundredth.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Australia down to three and there is nothing in it. Bobridge the rider who has gone and through the 3km marker Great Britain down by 1 hundredth of a second.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Lead just going under half a second with Bobridge on the front. 2250 metres gone there and it is closing to 4 tenths with 1500 to go.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Australia are on world record pace and the gap out towards 7 tenths through 1750 metres. The 2km mark, halfway and Australia are still holding that lead.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Michael Hepburn has come to the front and the gap is over half a second through 1500 metres!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Jack Bobridge to the front and they have a quarter second lead through 500, a little more through 750 as well. Nothing in it though! Through a kilometre the gap is three tenths of a second to Australia.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Away we go in the gold medal race! Australia have the edge through 250, a couple of tenths up.
Scott Pryde
Expert
So, Jack Bobridge is riding for Australia. Same 4 for Britain.
Scott Pryde
Expert
One race to go. The gold medal in the men's team pursuit is about to be decided by Australia and Great Britain.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Half a kilometre to go and it is still over 2 seconds. Denmark won't be caught here as they get the bell and they will take the win by about 3 seconds. Fantastic performance from Denmark, but they will be disappointed about that one lap against Australia which cost them a crack at gold or silver. Bronze Medal - Denmark Men's Team Pursuit final rankings 3. Denmark 4. New Zealand 5. Germany 6. Italy 7. Switzerland 8. China
Scott Pryde
Expert
The gap now over 2 seconds with 750 metres to go.