Crampton - Out of my hands
Matt Crampton admits Olympic selection is out of his control with Team GB again set to experiment.
Last Updated: 03/04/12 1:39pm
Matt Crampton admits his bid for an Olympic place is out of his control with Team GB again set to experiment with their men's team sprint line-up at the Track Cycling World Championships.
The 25-year-old is set to ride in the keirin and individual sprint in Melbourne this week, but could be left as a spectator in the team sprint with Philip Hindes poised to replace him in the three-man event.
German-born teenager Hindes is set to join Jason Kenny and Sir Chris Hoy as Britain attempt to find the fractions of a second that will put them on course to retain their Olympic title.
With Hoy likely to be given the nod for London in the keirin, Crampton, who missed out on selection for Beijing, may face the prospect of sitting out the Games again.
"I've done everything I can. I can't think about it too much now. It's down to the selectors. I've got to go to the worlds and have fun," Crampton said.
Kenny and Hoy won Olympic gold in the team sprint along with Jamie Staff in 2008, but Britain's last world title was in Los Angeles in 2005.
Challenge
Replacing the retired Staff has proved a challenge and specialist starter Hindes has been given his opportunity in the 'man one' berth at the World Championships.
Kenny has also featured in the starting place that was occupied by Ross Edgar at February's Track World Cup and could yet return there, with Crampton brought back in behind him, if Hindes does not fire.
The Kenny, Crampton and Hoy combination has been tried before and Crampton believes the trio can still be effective if they all hit top form together.
"We've not got together and all had a great day," he added.
While competition to get into the team sprint squad is fierce, there is also a battle to claim an Olympic spot in the individual disciplines, where only one rider will be permitted in London.
Crampton won the European keirin title in Apeldoorn last autumn but knows it will take a spectacular performance to take the event's berth ahead of four-time Olympic champion Hoy.
He added: "It is a tall order. It is still technically up for grabs, but the selection board have to look at past performances."
