Team GB medal hopefuls in action (2 August)
Team GB medal hopefuls in action today
Find our full Olympic betting pack here. We’ve previewed the young stars you won’t want to miss, looked at the men’s football tournament and identified some of the Team GB stars who could pick up a gold at London 2012
Sir Chris Hoy, Philip Hindes and Jason Kenny – Men’s Team Sprint
Best price – 9/2 with Paddy Power here
The Team GB sprint team has been a work in progress since Jamie Staff, the fastest starter in track cycling, retired in 2010. Staff, Hoy and Kenny took gold in 2008 en route to setting a world-record time but the team of 2012 face much greater competition from the French and Germans. Their most recent competition resulted in a disqualification for Great Britain, after an infringement by 19-year-old Philip Hindes. He was brought in to gain some experience for London 2012 and if he adapts quickly Team GB could land a gold.
Peter Wilson – Double-Trap Shooting
Best price – 4/1 with Ladbrokes here
Wilson has enjoyed a very successful year, which culminated with him climbing to No. 1 in the world rankings last August. He has slipped to second in 2012 but a gold medal and a new world record at the World Cup earlier in the year suggest he has the ability to shoot for gold today.
Victoria Pendleton and Jessica Varnish – Women’s Team Sprint
Best price – 5/2 with Ladbrokes here
These two have only been racing together for a year, but have forged a strong relationship already and they look in contention for a medal finish. The German and Australian teams look very hard to beat, in fact it was the German pairing that broke the world record set by Pendleton and Varnish in February. Pendleton has Olympic pedigree in the form of a gold for the individual sprint, from Beijing, and has announced she plans to retire from the sport after London 2012.
Chris Bartley, Peter Chambers, Richard Chambers and Rob Williams – Men’s Lightweight Fours
Best price – 5/4 with Paddy Power here
This foursome have had a very impressive build-up to London 2012 and start as 5/4 favourites with the bookies for a gold medal. Australia will be the nearest challengers, although Team GB overcame them in their last run out in Munich. This gold was preceded by a silver at the rowing world cup, and then a bronze medal in Lucerne. Great Britain are finding form at just the right time and could defeat their Australian rowing rivals. They qualified from their semi with the fastest time, in fact the only nation to clock less than six minutes with a 5:59:68, and look good for a gold.
