Phil Hindes: They had to put a bigger gear on me to slow me down
Great Britain's team sprint man one explains the secret to success on the opening night of track at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games

Great Britain's team sprint gold medalist Philip Hindes has revealed that coaches fitted a bigger gear on his bike in order to slow him down for the opening lap of the team sprint.
Hindes, 23, was so quick at the track world championships in London earlier this year that his teammates Jason Kenny and Callum Skinner struggled to hold his wheel from a standing start.
"I geared up since London, I went to 100 inch gear to slow myself down a bit so the other guys have it easy," Hindes explained after winning the second gold medal of his career. "It paid off. I rode a 17.1 [second opening lap] so the guys behind me got an easy ride."
>>> Rio 2016 Olympic Games: Latest news, reports and info
GB's head coach Iain Dyer explained that the larger gear slowed Hindes on the first half of his opening lap but allowed him to carry the speed and deliver Kenny and Skinner, man two and three respectively, in a better position.
The strategy paid off in Rio: New Zealand's Ethan Mitchell set the quickest ever opening lap time at sea level of 16.995 seconds, 0.035 seconds quicker than Hindes's effort. However Kenny turned the deficit around to an advantage of 0.086 seconds before Skinner finished the ride off with a 12.97 second final lap to win gold by 0.102 seconds.
"Phil did a stormer in worlds and we mucked around with gear choice a little bit with him to try and make the quickest team time as opposed to the quickest for him," explained Skinner.
"I think that really paid off. As well as Jason and myself stepping up again, that’s what paid off."
Thank you for reading 10 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
Richard Abraham is an award-winning writer, based in New Zealand. He has reported from major sporting events including the Tour de France and Olympic Games, and is also a part-time travel guide who has delivered luxury cycle tours and events across Europe. In 2019 he was awarded Writer of the Year at the PPA Awards.
-
-
21 things you didn't know about David Gaudu
The Frenchman has a Siberian husky and is an avid trail runner
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
The Ultimate Gear Test: this bike and gear survived an epic edition of the Unbound XL
The Unbound XL is a true test of fitness, self-sufficiency, tenacity and equipment. Here’s how this rider's bike and gear fared after 352 miles of gravel, mud, rain and thunderstorms.
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
'Just don't wreck yourself' - Fred Wright on his GB track gamble and the Olympics
The Bahrain Victorious rider is set to compete at the European Track Championships next week
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Inside the secret race at the Track Champions League
Cycling Weekly lifts the lid on the private points contests ridden out of the spotlight
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
'Chris Hoy said the British coaches may be kicking themselves’ - Britain’s lost track cycling champion
British-born Australian Matthew Richardson has fast become one of the world's best track sprinters
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Katie Archibald gets back to winning ways at Track Champions League
The defending endurance champion is up to second after the competition's second round
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Five Dutch sprinters squeezed in a van: Life behind the glamour of the Track Champions League
Now in its second year, the competition takes riders back to their early racing days
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Mark Stewart takes the men’s Endurance classification lead in the Track Champions League
Scotsman Stewart wins the Scratch and places third in the Elimination as Katie Archibald takes women’s Scratch victory
By Owen Rogers • Last updated
-
'This is the essence of track racing' - Chris Hoy on season two of the Track Champions League
Six-time Olympic gold medallist says he wishes he had something like this during his record-breaking track career
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Ethan Hayter bags second gold for GB on Track World Championships day four
The Brit brought his country's medal tally to seven as he retained his omnium title
By Tom Davidson • Last updated