With only 18 days to go for the Beijing Olympics, the Chinese cyclists vow to make their Olympic gold medal dream come true at home soil.
Eight years ago in Sydney, Jiang Cuihua won China a bronze medal. Four years ago in Athens, Jiang Yonghua took a silver. All coming closer to the top honor, yet they all failed to make the breakthrough.
"After Athens, we made impressive progress in several events, such as women's mountain bike, women's road race and men's team pursuit on the track. Now we have more confidence in winning an Olympic gold," said Han Cuiling, vice secretary general of the Chinese Cycling Association.
According to Han, China has been pinning its golden dream on women's mountain bike and women individual pursuit.
The International Cycling Union (UCI) announced in June 2006 that the women's 500m time trial would be replaced by bicycle motor cross (BMX) in the Beijing Olympics. The move is a hefty blow to the Olympic gold medal dream of Chinese cyclists as their previous two Olympic medals all came from the event.
"Two years ago after UCI made the decision, we adjusted our plan to concentrate on women's individual pursuit and mountain bike," Han said.
"Now we have Guo Shuang in the women's individual pursuit and Ren Chengyuan, Liu Ying in women's mountain bike, all have the ability to take the gold in the Olympics," added Han.
Tipped as a gold medal hopeful in the 2008 Olympic Games, Guo had been sent to Switzerland for training.
Under the guidance of her Swiss coach, Guo made significant progress in 2005 and 2006, collecting two national titles in half a year and winning the Asiad gold in Doha.
However, Guo's chance to win an Olympic gold looked dim after she failed to take a medal during the past 14 month in the international arena and only settled for the fourth place in the Manchester world track championship in March.