- 31 Jul 08, 08:59 AM
I'm in a good mood. I've just finished a tough couple of days at the velodrome, and it's all been excellent news - two personal bests on the flying 200 metres.
At the same time, I'm hurting. On Tuesday I did the last part of my interval session at my lactic tolerance threshold, and if I'm honest it felt pretty grim.
My numbers were great - my power readings are up - but it still felt horrible. There's nothing pleasant about those sorts of sessions.
PBs do wonders for your morale, though. To be at the absolute top of my form just days before Beijing is a wonderful feeling.
And we're all doing it, too. I can't say that one member of the GB squad is looking better than anyone else because every one of us - the team pursuiters, the women, the sprinters - is at such a high level.
The strange thing is how used to success we are now.
On Tuesday I went under 10 seconds for a 200m sprint for the first time in my life, but it just felt like a normal day. The standards in the squad are so high that it didn't feel like I'd done anything remarkable.
In some ways you'd expect to be at your best right now. The training load has changed - we're now getting more rest than at other times of the year, and with the Olympics so close motivation is at its absolute peak.
The quality of every single effort I put in on the track is now vital. You have to be hitting the right numbers of every lap - there's simply no room for cruising.
We've been working towards this for four years, and we're right at the sharp end of things now - you just give it everything in training.
We've also brought in a dress rehearsal feel to training, using our race wheels in training, silk tyres on the track, wearing the race kit.
That feels good in many ways - you know you're so close to the big day - but at the same time it piles on the pressure.
If you're not hitting your marks, not making the times you should be making, you've got almost no time to try to sort things out.
Everything we've achieved in the last four years - those PBs, World Championship gold medals - now feels like a stepping-stone to this moment.
This is the top of the mountain for us. And if we're as strong in Beijing as we should be, it'll take an outstanding performance to beat us.
Chris Hoy was speaking to BBC Sport's Tom Fordyce
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You guys sound as if you are all on fire! Are you able to share any info on the pursuit guys times too?
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What an inspiration you are to us all
Bring home the gold.
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All the best Chris.
It won't be for the lack of effort - you'll certainly deserve any rewards.
PS That shot of you standing in your cleats on the cannon on the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle looked more dicey than any track stand
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I (and several friends) saw you and your team mates at the Newport velodrome on Tuesday, there were quite a few spectators. We were all very impressed with your speeds (all of you!) and the apparent professional setup of Cycling GB, and the calm atmosphere in your camp. The general consensus seems to be that GB Cycling is probably the only section of the GB Olympic squad that will bring home gold medals. We are all rooting for you and hoping you can emulate the Manchester world championships. We are very happy that you visited Newport velodrome. Briefly: What are your impressions of it?
Best of luck in Beijing.
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At the risk of counting chickens, it really looks as if cycling could be Britain's most successful sport in Beijing. I just wish that the events aren't going to take place at such an ungodly hour!
Good luck to Chris, Brad, Cav, Victoria, Rebecca and all the members of the Secret Squirrel club!
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i actually think your faster them my smart car 200m in under 10 secs .. be a close and exciting race i think !!
good luck, although sounds like you wont need the luck...
6 p's my old man used to say
Proper
Preperation
Prevents
Poor (well maybe a another p word)
Performance !
sounds like you have done that...
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I've just been browsing a cricket blog which was all gloom, doom and blame: just like the footie - and all the others!
It's so NICE to read and contribute to a sport so elevated by warm and positive support. Cycling is the peoples' sport: anyone can do it, at any level.
Every year, the highlights of sport for me are The Grand Tours, Il Giro, Le Tour and La Vuelta and any Velo Comp ANYWHERE!
I've been to four Olympiads, sat in the Athletics stadium every day and enjoyed it immensely, but the atmosphere of an Olympic Velo is like nothing else on earth.
good luck to the whole brilliant - and unbeatable cycling squad, but I have a special word for King Chris Hoy:
Chris, I live in a quiet valley, but when I look out of the living room window of my house and see a chilling road sign at the foot of the junction opposite. It states simply: 17%, unsuitable for HGV. I'm 61, climbing it doesn't get easier:
When you finally retire, can I have your quads?
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Firstly River_pines...
Here's the 7 p's
Proper
Prior
Preparation
Prevents
Pretty
Poor
Performance.
Chris,
Why are the brits so good at cycling? Boardman, Wiggins, Hoy. Even Cavendish in the TdeF this year. Any explanation?
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
River pines and Quieteuro, I've tried to live by your p list throughout my long sporting life and because of it I can proudly add an eight:
PERMANENTLY!
It's a shame about Nanny 606, because we all know that your no4 River, and your no5 Euro, is really P***!
Urine doesn't have the same cache - nor does it start with 'P.'
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Brave Sophia, could you love a 61 year old codger with his own (two) wheels who can still manage 17% daily (see comment 7) and who will be taking over Chris Hoy's quads any day now..?
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In reply to quieteuro08:
I think the reasons start at the top: At last, after many years of old duffers running British cycling, there are now people who know what they are doing, know what needs to be doen and how to do it, and are actually allowed to get on with what needs to be done. One of these needs is linked straight to the grass roots of the sport: Relevant people at the top realised there are stars in the making at grass roots level who wanted to get to the top, but until recently didn't quite know how to do it, but are now shown the way AND being supported by the top people in their desire, see CAV and young Geraint Thomas from Cardiff.
So, we got the trackies quality sorted, now to the road stars of the future: We need road racing continental style in this country, on a large scale, ALAS the cops (and antiquated laws) don't allow this to happen at the moment. Just one lousy Tour of Britain is pathetic. Until we get a sports Minister who understands and supports cycling and cycle sport (and a general public attitude that swings from lethal anti-cycling to pro-cycling), it will be very diffcult, nay, impossible. But I keep on dreaming...
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To bravesophia:
You might be better off joining your local cycle club, or local CTC section, there you can see at first hand what you'd like to let yourself in for. Good luck, brave girl.
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KrautBecker, a laudible sentiment. There used to be far more roadracing when I was alive, but as traffic volumes have increased down the decades, bike racing has been squeezed out - literally.
Sadly, it is no longer safe enough to send out 50-100 riders and impractical to close even B and C roads on the same rolling basis which the europeans can do so efficiently.
I think we should all just go and mingle with Brave Sophia (comment 9) instead...
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Good to hear about all the PBs coming out of the GB cycling camp! :D
GOOD LUCK PEOPLE!
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Well said Kraut Becker! Sophia, join a bike club, then, if you can demonstrate that you can change your own flattie, they'll be all over you like a badly fitting suit.
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Last comment before sign off: Are there any Aussies out there?
Whenever there's a blog discussing British sporting endeavour, or more usually the lack of it, the Aussies always come out of the woodwork to add their 2 cents worth.
At present, British track cycling leads the world. On it's way up it knocked Australia off the top spot and we haven't heard a word from 'em since. Funny that...
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trickyseampicker: Yes, let's all join up and make bravesophia happy! I'd happily fix her puncture and pump up her clinchers any day...
and Sophia, if you think that's naughty, well, that's us cyclists, naughty through and through, from the seat to the bottom bracket. I've got a tandem, and I'd love to give you a good ride on the back any day...
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Good luck matey and enjoy it =:o)
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Best of luck to you and your teamates Chris. I think the the professionalism and dedication you guys show is an inspiration to many sportsman.
I think you will be in the vangaurd for medals once again!
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