Jess Varnish and Katy Marchant rage at coaches after failing to qualify for Olympic team sprint
By Matt Westby
Last Updated: 03/03/16 11:19am
Jess Varnish and Katy Marchant launched a furious attack on British Cycling's coaches after failing to qualify for the team sprint at this summer’s Olympic Games.
Only five European nations can take part in the event in Rio and Britain went into the final qualifying competition, this week's UCI Track Cycling World Championships in London, sixth in the rankings.
Jess Varnish and Katy Marchant needed to make up a 23-point deficit to fifth-placed France but could only finish two places and 20 qualification points above the French in fifth on the day.
Varnish and Marchant blamed their failure on British Cycling coaches experimenting with other less proven riders earlier in the qualification process.
Marchant said: "A lot of frustration, disappointment, disappointed in the organisation. We're in this position through decisions of other people, not through any fault of our own.
"We've given everything. We've done everything we've been asked of. To be fifth in the world and not ride in the Olympics, I've got no words. It's heartbreaking."
Varnish added: "There's been no real plan. There have been other people that aren't even on the squad now trying to qualify the 'A team' a place at the Olympics.
"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'. It's not happened.
"We've been playing catch up for two years. This is through absolutely no fault of our own. We're fifth in the world, we've beaten so many of the teams, this is the best we've ever competed and we're not going to the Olympics.
"We're good enough, yet we're not going to the Olympics. It should never have come down to this."
Varnish and Marchant are still both in contention to compete in the individual sprint and keirin at both this World Championships and the Olympics, although their failure to qualify for the team sprint means Britain will have only one place in the keirin in Rio rather than two.
An emotional Varnish questioned her future in the sport but insisted she would not abandon her ambitions to win a gold medal in the individual events in Rio.
"We put our lives on the line for this," she added. "We give absolutely everything. There's so much we sacrifice.
"I've been around for a long time and you think, 'Should I keep putting my life in these people's hands? It's my life, I only live once, is it going to be worth it?'
"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?
"I won't let people like this make me quit. I started being a cyclist when I was 12 or 13 years old to be Olympic champion. I'm not going to quit."
British Cycling head coach Iain Dyer listened in as Varnish and Marchant vented their fury and afterwards defended the coaches' selection policy.
"They have no reason to feel let down," he said. "Every step of the way we have done our absolute best to put the best team out there and in the best possible shape.
"When we look back on our two-year qualifying period, I honestly don't think we could consider there would be much we would change about that.
"I would like to think if they were to hold the same interview in a couple of days' time and if they were to think about it, you might not get quite such an emotional response. I fully understand their disappointment."
British Cycling technical director Shane Sutton said Varnish and Marchant's outburst would not affect their chances of being selected for individual events in the future but admitted their relationship with coaches was damaged.
He said: "No, definitely not. There's no repercussions for anybody. I've had an hour and a half with the girls. We need to put to bed any crisis between the coaches and the riders. We've got a great coaching team, they work in harmony day in, day out.
"Disappointment creates emotions. If they reflect on the performance it was brilliant. Ultimately they just haven't been good enough. We all take ownership and responsibility to deliver excellence. You need to take responsibility."
