Dave Brailsford: 'Mark Cavendish deserves an Olympic medal'
Team Sky principal Brailsford thinks Cavendish has a strong chance of winning a medal in the omnium at Rio 2016
Sir Dave Brailsford believes Mark Cavendish deserves an Olympic medal at this summer's Rio Games, which begin on Friday.
Cavendish has famously missed out on medals in the last two Olympics; he placed ninth Madison alongside Sir Bradley Wiggins eight years ago in Beijing, and then 29th in the London 2012 road race around the capital and Surrey.
The 31-year-old is seeking to win gold in the omnium, which begins with the scratch race inside the Velódromo Municipal do Rio on Sunday, 14 August, and British Cycling's former performance director feels he is worthy of a podium finish.
>>> Chris Froome and Adam Yates preview the Olympic road race (video)
“Cav deserves a medal,” said Brailsford. “We went to Beijing and it didn't work out, he put everything into that. We came to London, it didn't work out there either.
“Yet he's brave enough – and he is brave to do it, because he doesn't need to – to say I'm going to put my neck on the line again in an other Olympic games.
“After the Tour [de France] he's just had, I hope he really gets what he deserves.”
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Cavendish placed sixth in the discipline at the Track World Championships in London earlier this year, but was within 30 points of victor Fernando Gaviria, his former Etixx-Quick Step teammate.
Gaviria (Colombia) beat the likes of Roger Kluge (Germany), Glenn O'Shea (Australia) and Team Sky's Italian rider Elia Viviani to the world title this March, all of whom will be competing for Olympic glory in Rio.
However, when asked if he backs Cavendish in the event, Brailsford added: “I do, actually. The field is the field, hopefully the best man wins, and it'll be really interesting to watch.
“Cav will have learned from the Worlds, that was the whole point of him doing it. He's fitter now, I think he's in better shape.
“You've always got to be cautious to compare the Olympics to the previous Worlds, they don't often go to form.
“The gap between the Worlds and the Games is a tricky length, six months or so. You can't sustain that form, you have to dip.
“People try and do it different ways, and British Cycling have done it right many times over the years. I think some teams have tried to stay on it too much, without naming names.”
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Nick Bull is an NCTJ qualified journalist who has written for a range of titles, as well as being a freelance writer at Beat Media Group, which provides reports for the PA Media wire which is circulated to the likes of the BBC and Eurosport. His work at Cycling Weekly predominantly dealt with professional cycling, and he now holds a role as PR & Digital Manager at SweetSpot Group, which organises the Tour of Britain.