It’s all about the track for Laura Trott as the double Olympic champion insists her focus is away from road racing and already geared towards Rio 2016.
Despite being part of women’s road team Wiggle-Honda, the 21-year-old will prioritise the Commonwealth Games this summer and won’t take part in the inaugural La Course race, organised by the Tour de France.
The race coincides with the final day of the men’s Tour and will take place in Paris on July 27 but Trott knows that, despite her success over the past four years, she’ll have to work hard for 2016.
“Riding La Course isn’t really a big goal for me. I’ve never been that big on riding on the road,” said Trott.
“Obviously I rode for Wiggle-Honda but come next year I’ll be focusing on the track a lot more because of Rio it’ll be in the summer so it will actually only be a year and a half away.
“I have to qualify for the Olympics so I’ll be off doing the European under-23s and things like that so by that point I won’t be focusing on the road at all. Maybe after the Games though, we’ll see.”
Trott has enjoyed a successful track season this year, picking up gold in the team pursuit and silver in the omnium at the recent World Track Championships in Cali, Colombia.
And she is looking to continue inspiring the next generation of British cyclists after opening the Lee Valley VeloPark at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford.
The Park offers top-class facilities for mountain biking, BMX, road racing and an indoor velodrome for cyclists of all ages and abilities and Trott was delighted to return to the site of her Olympic successes two years ago.
And the team pursuit world champion is confident the Park can deliver on generating new talent for Team GB but believes the main goal is to get people on their bikes.
“I don’t think the track is necessarily all about trying to find the next me or the next Dani King. It’s all about trying to get as many people riding their bikes as possible,” added Trott.
“I think it will be a success even if you don’t see any talent come from it, but I’m pretty sure you are going to see a fair bit come from here.
“I’ve got nice good memories of here and this track. To come back here is just an incredible feeling for me. If I can be an inspiration for the next generation, that’s amazing for me.”
© Sportsbeat 2014