CYCLING - TRACK: Fresh from her record-setting bronze in the women’s keirin, reigning Olympic champion Anna Meares lines up ready for more history in the women’s sprint with the flying 200m sprint qualification opening the track session at 4pm on Sunday (AEST 5am Monday 15 August).

A favourite every time her name appears on a start list Meares, 32, has strong Olympic-year form having claimed her best sprint result since her London gold, coming fourth in the sprint at World Championships in March.

Joining her is 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medalist Stephanie Morton who provides Australia with a superb one-two punch, the raw speed of the South Australian making her a threat against any of the world’s best.

Having shared the past four world titles between them, Zhong Tianshi (CHN), Kristina Vogel (GER) and Becky James (GBR) will lead the international push.

Four years on from his teenage Olympic debut, Matthew Glaetzer is into the men’s sprint bronze medal final. He will battle Denis Dmitriev for bronze.  (AEST 6am Monday 15 August).

Glenn O’Shea opens his campaign in the omnium. Across two days, riders will be tested in six events - scratch race, individual pursuit, elimination race, flying lap, time trial and points race, with points awarded for finishing position in each round. The rider with the most points at the end of the six events, will take the gold medal.

‘Mr Consistency’ Glenn O’Shea will be looking to continue an impressive four year run during which he has reached the omnium podium at every World Championship or World Cup event contested since London Olympics' fifth place.

Colombia’s reigning world champion Fernando Gavria, Germany’s Roger Kluge, Italy’s Elia Viviani, plus Great Britain’s Mark Cavendish headline the men’s field.

The men’s omnium will be held on Sunday 14 and Monday 15 August, while the women’s competition will feature on Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 August.

Amy McCann

olympics.com.au