Olympic Cycling: Women's Team Sprint Tip

Victoria Pendleton was the poster girl of British cycling in Beijing four years ago and she should be back on the medal trail with team-mate Jess Varnish on Thursday afternoon.

The women’s team sprint is a new event for the Olympics, and the British pair are worth a look at best odds of 3/1 (Boylesports) to win when action gets underway at ‘The Pringle’.

Pendleton and Varnish are third favourites behind the Australians and the Germans; the latter beat the world record at the world championships in Melbourne as the Brits finished fourth.

But it was a different story in London for the Track World Cup in February when Pendleton and Varnish took gold in the course of beating the world record. Such happy memories of the Velodrome can only serve the duo well in what is expected to be a tight contest.

Pendleton got the better of several opponents in Beijing that she will meet again on Thursday, most notably long-term Australian rival Anna Meares. That experience should serve her well and rub off on her youthful partner.

If patriotic fervour is channeled once again then another cycling gold for Team GB could be on the cards at decent odds.