Ollie Wood keen to pick up the pace in bid to restore GB’s track cycling golden days at Paris 2024 Olympics

PICK IT UP: Ollie Wood at the Olympic Track Practice session and holding camp ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Picture by Will Palmer/SWpix.com

Life after Ed Clancy has begun for the British Cycling team pursuit squad, but wouldn’t you know it, the grand old master of the sport is finding it hard to stay away.

“Ed’s been sticking around,” laughs Ollie Wood, Clancy’s now former team-mate from Wakefield.

“There’s no point him disappearing, he cares for us a lot and wants us to do well.”

Clancy’s reluctance is understandable. The Yorkshireman helped Britain dominate the team pursuit for a decade, winning Olympic gold medals with Sir Bradley Wiggins in 2008 and 2016, and future Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas sandwiched in between.

OFF THE PACE: Ethan Hayter, Ethan Vernon, Ollie Wood and Ed Clancy, right, Britain before the start of the men's team pursuit qualifying at the the Tokyo Olympics. Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com -

The fall from grace in Tokyo this summer was a painful one, particularly for Clancy, who aggravated a back injury in the first round of the competition and announced not only his withdrawal from the squad but also his immediate retirement.

It left a young team suddenly without their experienced leader and Britain’s long run at the top was over.

“Ed had always said he was going to retire but you don’t know if it’s a joke,” says Wood.

“He’d always say ‘that’s me done boys’, but some people find it hard to step away.

Ollie Wood and team-mates pictured during the Men ́s team pursuit first round, heat 4 at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Izu Velodrome Picture: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

“After the flight out to Tokyo, plus the operation on his back after Rio, he just wasn’t in the best condition. He did his best.

“Ed is usually the one bringing us all together. We had to say ‘look mate it’s not your fault’. He wasn’t in control of his body, what happens, happens.

“We tried to be as united as we could, to support each other.

“At the end of the day there’s worse stuff happening than us coming seventh in the Olympics. It was disappointment at the start but you soon get over it.”

BUILDING UP: Team pursuit riders Ed Clancy, Ollie Wood, Ethan Vernon, Ethan Hayter (from left) prepare for a practice run as part of their Tokyo Olympics warm-up preparations. Picture by Will Palmer/SWpix.com

In the world of professional cycling the wheel keeps spinning, especially with a European Track Championships held last week and a World Track Championships to come in Roubaix, France, next week; two major events held within three months of the Olympics.

Hence why the familiar face of Clancy is still to be found in the British Cycling velodrome in Manchester.

“We’ve had meetings and debriefs, planning meetings and looking ahead,” continues Wood. “We’re looking at what we did well, what we can improve on, and Ed is still a part of that.

“So he’s been involved a little bit and his experience is invaluable. I hope he sticks around as long as he can.”