You may want to hold onto your handlebars for this one because I have a significant and bold prediction to share. The Olympic track cycling events kick off on Wednesday, and I believe the GB squad is poised to secure a medal in all 12 categories. It will require some historic and stellar performances, but I truly trust this team can accomplish it, with the potential for multiple medals in certain races. Furthermore, I’m confident they will capture eight golds collectively, surpassing the seven titles we earned at London 2012 and the six at the Rio and Tokyo Games.
Having been part of those previous squads, which boasted exceptional athletes like Chris Hoy, Victoria Pendleton, Jason Kenny, and Katie Archibald, I firmly believe that this current team will shine brightly at the Paris Velodrome. I anticipate gold medals for GB in both men’s and women’s team pursuits, the women’s Madison, and the men’s omnium. I’m backing Jack Carlin for victory in the men’s keirin and Emma Finucane to emerge as a triple Olympic champion in the women’s team sprint, individual sprint, and keirin.
Emma and I have exchanged voice notes to ensure I pronounce her surname perfectly when celebrating her achievements. She sent me a recording, and I assure you I will say Finucane correctly, as she clarified phonetically for me: Fin-noo-kun. So there you have it – we now know for certain.
Emma mentioned her nervousness, and I worried I might have placed too much pressure on her since I’ve been quite vocal about her winning three golds. However, I recalled the pride and inspiration I felt when Chris Hoy and Dave Brailsford stated in 2012 that I would become a multiple Olympic champion. Their respect for me elevated my self-belief, and I’ve shared my high regard for Emma with her; I know she’s capable of dominating.
Yet, not all excellent riders are the most recognized names. Josie Knight is the smoothest and most effective team player I’ve had the honor of riding with during a pursuit. She’s outstanding. People may say, “Oh, that’s Laura and her team,” but Josie is the one who keeps us all together.
During a pursuit, you feel like an elastic band stretched to its limits. Success requires more than just brute strength; it demands a remarkable rider who can galvanize the entire team, as even minor errors can lead to a breakdown and loss.
Josie is the key reason I believe GB will triumph in the team pursuit next week. When the team needs someone to make an extraordinary effort on the bike, Josie is the person you can count on. She’s incredibly consistent and attentively listens to her teammates. I’ve never seen her fracture a team dynamic or push so hard that we fall apart. Her control is superb; keep an eye out next week to witness how remarkable Josie is on the bike.
This first week in Paris has been a source of inspiration for me. Adam Peaty spoke wonderfully following the 100m breaststroke final. Despite being favored to take gold for a third consecutive Olympics and missing out by just 0.02 seconds, he expressed no disappointment and highlighted the value of his silver medal. That perspective resonated deeply because I know the immense difficulty involved in securing any Olympic medal.
Similarly, Tom Daley’s silver in diving demonstrated a healthy outlook. Both he and Adam have framed their experiences through the lens of fatherhood, bringing a refreshing perspective to elite sports. Witnessing Adam embrace his little boy was certainly my most heartwarming moment of these Olympics.
Simone Biles has been incredible, and her contributions in helping the US secure the gymnastics team gold have overshadowed the challenges she experienced during this event at the Tokyo Olympics. Three years ago, millions around the world observed her struggles amid immense pressure. The contrast between her previous despair and her current jubilant triumph is striking, and it’s something I absolutely love.
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That team victory on Tuesday night placed me briefly in wonderful company with Simone, as we both held five Olympic golds at that moment. But I knew she wouldn’t stay with me for long. Just two nights later, she clinched another gold medal with a breathtaking performance, regaining her title as the all-around Olympic gymnastics champion.
Reflecting on Tokyo underscores how fortunate we were in cycling at those “ghost Games.” While we enjoyed the presence of audiences, many sports were played in almost empty venues due to the pandemic, creating a surreal atmosphere for extraordinary athletic achievements. I experienced a hint of that disconnected feeling during the closing ceremony, where I bore Team GB’s flag alongside just a handful of security guards and television crews.
The energetic crowds in Paris have highlighted what we missed – although I wasn’t thrilled with the French audience who booed Tom Pidcock after his incredible comeback from a puncture to overtake local favorite Victor Koretzky in a thrilling mountain bike race. Tom exhibited the fierce determination of an Olympic champion with a brave strategy, and Koretzky acknowledged that it was a ruthless contest. While I understood the crowd’s reaction, I found it disappointing.
No one booed or cheered when I rode through a few Paris streets on a Brompton bike that week. I was heading to meet my boys, Albie and Monty, and thought to myself, ‘Let’s see how quickly I can go.’ Ultimately, the answer was not very fast. A Brompton bike isn’t the most aerodynamic, so there weren’t any moments that made me yearn to be an Olympic cyclist once more.
Instead, I enjoyed cruising through Paris on a bike, reflecting on how delightful it is to cycle rather than travel by car. It served as a gentle reminder of the joy I find in the calmer side of cycling.
