Cross-country skiers Andrew Young and James Clugnet can’t wait to join forces after opening their Games in individual competition.
Both Team GB stars missed out on progressing in the men’s sprint freestyle, Young placing 36th and Clugnet 40th with only the top 30 going through to the quarter-finals.
Young revealed he is still dealing with the lingering effects of contracting Covid last month but expects an upturn in fortunes as the days in Beijing roll on.
He said: “I'm three weeks away from having Covid so my top physical shape just isn't there. I'm missing the speed and missing what I need to go through in the qualification.
“I'm actually quite pleased with how I skied and I'm on track to keep improving. I think I'll get better and better the further I get away from illness.
“Today's race will make me better in the following races and I'm looking forward to getting stuck in as I've got three events left.
"I'm really looking forward to the team event with Jimmy. I'll keep my head down, keep working and hope to get better every day."
Clugnet admitted he emptied the tank at the National Cross-Country Skiing Centre in Zhangjiakou but is searching for answers after falling short of his usual championship form.
“That was a hard one,” he said. “Not quite the race that I was hoping to do. I pushed as hard as I could and it didn't work out.
"I should be good enough to qualify in a race like this. I felt better yesterday, actually, but I really gave it all on this course.
"My vision was blurry and I was seeing stars at the finish line - so I don't think there are many races when I've pushed as hard as this.
"The fact it didn't work - we'll have to talk a bit about it with my coaches. I've always performed my best at championships, so it's a bit boring that today it didn't work out. But 40th is still an OK result at the Olympics.”
Both Young and Clugnet will race in Friday’s 15km classic along with Andrew Musgrave, who earlier this week came home 17th in the skiathlon, before uniting for the team sprint on 16 February
“We'll try to do better on the team sprint next week and it can only get better from here,” said Clugnet.