BRITAIN'S track cyclists and athletes open their Olympic campaigns tomorrow with very differing expectations of what they can achieve.
The cyclists, like Victoria Pendleton (pictured), are predicted to win up to 12 medals in the Laoshan Velodrome.
Some experts, though, are predicting that athletics is facing its worst Olympics since Montreal in 1976 when they won only a bronze medal.
If the World Championships, that took place in Manchester five months ago, are any guide, Britain's cyclists should expect a gold rush.
Britain won nine golds out of 18 events and seven of them are on the Olympic programme.
The team is already on a high after the victory in the road race of Nicole Cooke and then the silver medal won in the time trial by Emma Pooley, ensuring that they are well on their way to achieving the UK Sport target of six medals from these Games.
David Brailsford, British Cycling's performance director, said: "If you're built up, and you don't believe you can perform, it's a concern.
"But in reality if you look at every single event, if we perform to the best of our ability we'll be competitive.
"We're not really concerned about other people's expectations.
"We have our goals, we have our targets, we know what cadences and powers we need, it's all figured out.
"It's absolutely the best British team that's ever left British shores."
