Katy Marchant heartbroken as Jess Varnish hits out over failure to make 2016 Olympics in Rio

A FUMING Jess Varnish and Katy Marchant suffered Olympic disappointment before hitting out at British Cycling's coaches for their failure to reach Rio.
Leeds's Katy Marchant. Picture: Tim Goode/PA.Leeds's Katy Marchant. Picture: Tim Goode/PA.
Leeds's Katy Marchant. Picture: Tim Goode/PA.

Varnish and Leeds’s Marchant needed to finish two clear places ahead of France in the two-women, two-lap team sprint on the opening day of the Track World Championships in London to secure Britain’s Olympic place.

But the British pair could only finish in fifth place in 32.903 seconds while France were seventh in 33.258secs.

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The qualification period concluded in London, and Britain did not accrue enough points to advance, with Varnish and Marchant pointing the finger firmly at their superiors.

Great Britain's Jessica Varnish (left) and Katy Marchant compete in the Women's Team Sprint during day one of the UCI Track Cycling World Championships at Lee Valley VeloPark, London. (Picture: Tim Goode/PA Wire).Great Britain's Jessica Varnish (left) and Katy Marchant compete in the Women's Team Sprint during day one of the UCI Track Cycling World Championships at Lee Valley VeloPark, London. (Picture: Tim Goode/PA Wire).
Great Britain's Jessica Varnish (left) and Katy Marchant compete in the Women's Team Sprint during day one of the UCI Track Cycling World Championships at Lee Valley VeloPark, London. (Picture: Tim Goode/PA Wire).

“I feel sick,” said Varnish, who was disqualified at the London 2012 Olympics when competing with Victoria Pendleton.

“How many more times can I keep putting my life on hold, making these choices for my career, if it’s not going to pay off, through no fault of our own?

“We have been basically playing catch up through bad decisions and bad luck. There’s been people put out for races, say European Championships last year... it’s great they’ve been given an opportunity at major championships and to try to qualify the ‘A team’ a place at Olympic Games, but they’re not there yet. It should not be their job. To have to qualify for the Olympic Games, it should not be a development programme. It should be ‘A team’, ‘A team’, ‘A team’.”

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Varnish could yet go to Rio in the individual sprint and Keirin, while Marchant added: “We should never have been in the position that we’re in today.

Great Britain's Steven Burke (right) leads the the team in the Men's Team Pursuit Qualification during day one of the UCI Track Cycling World Championships at Lee Valley VeloPark, London.Great Britain's Steven Burke (right) leads the the team in the Men's Team Pursuit Qualification during day one of the UCI Track Cycling World Championships at Lee Valley VeloPark, London.
Great Britain's Steven Burke (right) leads the the team in the Men's Team Pursuit Qualification during day one of the UCI Track Cycling World Championships at Lee Valley VeloPark, London.

“To be able to come out and perform like we did today, under the pressure that we’ve been under, I’m really proud of Jess. I’m proud of myself. But to be sitting here saying we’re not going to the Olympics is heartbreaking.”

British Cycling technical director Shane Sutton quickly attempted to draw a line on dissent in the ranks.

“We need to put to bed any crisis between the coaches and the riders,” he said. “Disappointment creates emotions. If they reflect on the performance it was brilliant. They’ve had a fantastic opportunity to qualify and, ultimately, just haven’t been good enough.”

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Elsewhere, Sir Bradley Wiggins, riding in his first Track World Championships since 2008, combined with Steven Burke, Jonathan Dibben and Owain Doull to clock three minutes 55.664 seconds and advance in first place to today’s semi-finals.

They will face Italy for a place in the final. Yorkshire’s recovery Ed Clancy was unused.

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