Cardiff-born Owain Doull is set to make his Olympic debut today, as he rides for Team GB in the men’s team pursuit qualifiers.
Owain has become a core member of the men’s endurance squad. He continues the tradition of being the Welsh representative in the team pursuit quartet, with Geraint Thomas hanging up his track bike after London 2012.
As part of the team pursuit squad, Owain has won three UCI World Cup medals, and two silvers at the 2015 and 2016 UCI Track Cycling World Championships. For Rio 2016, he is stepping into a squad of experience; Sir Bradley Wiggins, a multiple Olympic champion, Ed Clancy, a two-time Olympic Team Pursuit Champion and London 2012 Champion Steven Burke.
“It’s a bit daunting, the whole team, especially men’s endurance. With Cav riding the omnium and fifth man for the team pursuit, and having Brad, Ed and Burkey – they are big players in the game. It’s a bit surreal and you forget who they are and what they have achieved – they are just your mates."
But I take a lot of confidence from that. If it was me going to Rio on my own, I’d be running around like a headless chicken. To have age and experience brings you back down and keeps everything in check, which is important.”
Doull started cycling in Cardiff with Maindy Flyers, and progressed along the talent pathway with Welsh Cycling and British Cycling. Owain represented Wales at the UK School Games in 2009, and at the Isle of Man Youth Commonwealth Games in 2011, where he won two medals for Wales. Owain then moved on to the British Cycling Olympic programmes, Junior Academy in 2011 followed quickly by a move to the Senior Academy in 2012.
In 2014, Owain represented Wales at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, he narrowly missed out on track medals, but assisted Geraint Thomas in his gold medal-winning ride in the road race. By the end of 2014 he was back on track wining the European Team Pursuit title and had his sights firmly set on Rio.
“This is a massive opportunity. When I started cycling. It was one of the things I always wanted to do. I wanted to turn professional on the road and I wanted to try and win an Olympic gold medal."
To get closer to that process every year is exciting. To be able to call myself an Olympian after these Games is something I’ll be proud of for the rest of my life.”
Owain Doull will be competing in the men’s team pursuit in Rio 2016 with Team GB.
Men’s Team Pursuit qualifiers are on Thursday 11 August, with the medal finals on Friday 12 August.
