Laura Trott not expecting GB dominance at 2016 Rio Olympics

Laura Trott is hoping to repeat her double Olympic success at the Rio Games next summer

Double Olympic champion Laura Trott admits it will be a "massive ask" for British cyclists to repeat their 2008 and 2012 dominance at Rio 2016.

GB cyclists won 26 medals, including 16 gold, across the Beijing and London Olympics, but just three silvers at the 2015 Track World Championships.

It was the team's worst Worlds since 2001, but Trott insists those results have motivated Team GB.

"The Worlds were disappointing, but I think it's spurred us on," she said.

"A lot of people say that we're under pressure to perform after what happened in Paris and to try and back up what we did in Beijing and London, which is a massive ask."

"British Cycling have made it look easy and that makes people forget winning Olympic medals isn't easy, but I feel we're moving in the right direction."

Trott opens her season this weekend, competing in the British Track Cycling Championships in Manchester.

GB "miss" Sir Chris Hoy

Sir Chris Hoy retired from cycling after claiming a British record sixth Olympic title at London 2012.

Although steely focused in training, he was viewed by many in the GB team as a friendly, approachable and 'father-like' figure in the camp and his departure had a significant impact.

"He was a massive part of our team, a figurehead that we lost," Trott told BBC Sport.

Trott feels Sir Chris Hoy will be a big loss to Team GB in Rio 2016

"Everyone looked to him for advise on literally anything because he had so much knowledge and you could lean on him."

Trott also feels that the decision of performance director Sir Dave Brailsford - who had masterminded GB's recent Olympic dominance - to step away from the British track programme and focus on his Team Sky commitments also had an impact.

"In that year or so after the Games, no-one sort of knew where we were going or where we were heading," she said.

"Shane Sutton stepped up though [from head coach to technical director], so the team is a lot more settled now and as a collective we are moving forward."

Training changes will boost GB prospects

King, Trott and Rowsell all won gold at London 2012

Trott, Joanna Rowsell and Dani King combined to win the women's 3km team pursuit event at London 2012, but the event changed to a 4km race a year later.

Britain successfully claimed the world title over the new distance at both the 2013 and 2014 Worlds, but were outsprinted by Australia in Paris at this year's Worlds.

"We had been reigning world champions for years so to lose that title was disappointing, but it made us look at our training and what we were missing," said Trott.

"Before Paris, everyone's form was all over the place and we didn't come together on the day.

"When it changed to 4km, we worked on distance rather than speed but now we've switched and are doing a lot more drills so the team has a nice flow and I think we're really moving together as a unit."

Trott wants double Rio Olympic gold

Trott finished second behind Australia's Annette Edmonson to earn a third successive world omnium silver

Trott followed up her gold as part of the women's pursuit team with individual success in the multi-discipline omnium event at London 2012.

She will make her debut in the team sprint competition alongside returning BMX world champion Shanaze Reade at the British Track Championships, but is aiming to contest the same programme in 2016 as she did for 2012.

"My ambitions at Rio are to win double gold as that's what I did at London," she said.

"I never expected it at London so now I have put pressure on myself to go and do it again, but I enjoy that and can't wait to get out there and see what happens."

The British team's first major event of the season will be the World Championships at the London Olympic velodrome in March.

Watch more from Laura Trott on Saturday Sportsday, on BBC One at 12:50 BST on Saturday 26 September.