Waiting is almost over

Qualified dentist Wendy Houvenaghel can appreciate what it is like to wait for an appointment as she and her Great Britain team-mates prepare for Friday’s team pursuit at the Olympic Park Velodrome.

The 37-year-old from Northern Ireland has been in final preparations at the British track team’s Newport training camp.

Houvenaghel, who in 2009 combined with Otley’s Lizzie Armitstead to win Track Cycling World Championships team pursuit gold, is eager for action, her event taking place on the second day of competition at the velodrome.

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The 37-year-old, who won individual pursuit silver in Beijing in 2008 before the event was removed from the Olympic programme, said: “We can’t wish for the competition day to come around fast enough. We’re ready to compete.”

Three-time world champion Houvenaghel is set to compete in the three-woman, three-kilometre event – new to the Olympic programme – alongside Joanna Rowsell, Dani King and Laura Trott.

For the first time in April, Houvenaghel was not part of the British team which won the world title for the fourth time in five attempts and considered taking the first flight home from Melbourne before being persuaded to stay.

She added: “What happened in Melbourne for the team was a great success. For me personally it was a disappointment that I wasn’t involved. However, I’ve moved forward and as a team of four we’re very positive and we’re now ready to race.”