2012 Olympics: Cavendish Could Set Gold Wheels in Motion | Pro ...

Great Britain’s Mark Cavendish is favored to take gold in the men’s London Olympic road race. (Photo by Kristof Ramon)

By Justin Davis

PARIS, July 4, 2012 (AFP) – As former teammates, Mark Cavendish and Matt Goss could spin a yarn or two about how to beat one another in cycling's hotly contested road races.

But at the London Olympics, their widely anticipated duel for gold on the opening day could set the wheels in motion for a Britain v. Australia rivalry that has the potential to dominate the cycling events in London.

In all, 18 gold medals spread across four cycling disciplines—road racing (four), track (10), BMX (two) and mountain bike (two)—will be contested at the Games.

And going on recent form, Britain and Australia are gearing up to hog the Olympic spotlight.

Now racing with different trade teams, Cavendish and Goss are among the favorites to claim the first cycling gold of the Games at the 250km men's road race on July 28.

It culminates on the pancake-flat home straight of The Mall, meaning the teams with sprint specialists—such as Cavendish, Goss, Germany's Andre Greipel and Belgium's Tom Boonen—will be doing everything they can to stymie dangerous late attacks.

Isle of Man sprinter Cavendish, who won the second stage of the Tour de France on Monday, is widely seen as the man to beat, especially after his triumph, ahead of Goss, at the world road race championships in 2011.

"I want to have a great season," Cavendish said.

"I would be telling a lie if I said I was not dreaming of the Olympic race. I have strong patriotic feelings and the Games in London are for me the chance of a lifetime."

In the women's road race the following day, Britain's Lizzie Armitstead—currently locked in an internal leadership battle with reigning champion Nicole Cooke—fancies her chances in the event of a bunch finish at the end of 140 km.

"I think I'm the fastest of the British girls," said Armitstead, who will still have a job in holding off the challenge of Dutchwoman Marianne Vos, Italian Giorgia Bronzini and Ina-Yoko Teutenberg of Germany, among others.

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