China are relying on their women to break a 24-year drought when they host the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Since rejoining the Olympic fold in 1984, China have failed to win a gold medal in track cycling.
'It is going to be extremely tough even if we are the hosts,' said Li Xin, vice-president of China Cycling Association. 'We have won a bronze and a silver at the last two games in Sydney and Athens respectively and both were in the women's 500 metres time trial, but unfortunately this event has been dropped for the Beijing Games following a decision by the UCI [International Cycling Union].
'We are very strong in that event and our dream to win a gold medal has been dashed.'
However, Li is hopeful that a new generation of track specialists can make the breakthrough that China craves.
'We have some very promising female track cyclists, and they are all capable of mounting a serious challenge to the world's top riders,' Li said.
'The men's team are generally not as good as the women's, but they are still working very hard.'
