Tokyo Olympics: Jack Carlin GB's best chance of sprint medal, says Jason Kenny
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Tokyo Olympics: GB's Kenny wins his heat to advance
Tokyo Olympic Games on the BBC |
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Dates: 23 July-8 August Time in Tokyo: BST +8 |
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Jack Carlin is Great Britain's best chance of a medal in the men's sprint, says defending champion Jason Kenny.
Kenny and Carlin - who won team sprint silver on Tuesday - will race in the 1/8 finals on Thursday, hoping to book quarter-final berths.
But Kenny, who won the Olympic title in both London and Rio, says he is "struggling a bit" after his medal-winning efforts earlier in the week.
"Jack is really strong and is in a really good position," said Kenny, 33.
"He's definitely our best chance. The Dutch boys are fast, a little bit quicker but Jack's got the edge in racing. He's a good racer and if he keeps it together he's in a really good position."
Carlin posted the third quickest time in qualifying on Wednesday, behind Jeffrey Hoogland - who set a new Olympic record - and Harrie Lavreysen of the Netherlands.
Kenny, chasing his ninth Olympic medal, was eighth fastest.
Both then won their opening head-to-head races.
"From my point of view I'll keep chipping away," he said. "I'm playing a bit of a supporting role for the first time.
"If I can knock some out that's one place closer to the podium and that's the way I'm looking at it. Keep hammering away and take as many people as I can.
"I've been struggling a bit and struggling with recovering. Obviously, qualifying eighth puts you in the thick of it as well.
"So yes, it just felt like every ride was a final and I rode it like it was as well. I'm over the moon to get through the first day and that's it really. Job done for today, get fuelled up and hope that tomorrow goes well as well."
Katy Marchant will also be in quarter-final action on Thursday, having advanced in the women's keirin.
But she had to go through the repechage after being relegated.
The individual sprint bronze medallist from Rio 2016 was ruled to have deviated from her racing line.
Earlier on Wednesday, Great Britain recovered from Tuesday's disappointment in not reaching the team pursuit final to set a new national record of 3:45.636 in the race for seventh place.
The Team GB line-up of Ethan Hayter, Charlie Tanfield, Ethan Vernon and Ollie Wood - all making their Olympic debuts in Tokyo - missed out on a place in the medal races after a controversial crash during their semi-final against Denmark.
Italy won gold in a new world record time, with world champions Denmark forced to settle for silver.
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