PARIS – “It’ll be an interesting experience watching the Olympics in Paris,” Ed Clancy, three-time Olympic champion cyclist, tells i.

“I’ve been involved quite heavily with their research and innovation (R&I) team, working with developing the skin suits and the bikes. Of course there is a part of my soul that says ‘Wow, wouldn’t it be ace to get on the start line, back with the boys and see if we can do the business again?’.

“I guess that’s the reality of getting old: illness, injury, talented youthful riders come along”.

One such young rider, Josh Tarling, was only a few months old when the last GB opening day Olympic medal was won, at Athens 2004 – but no one believes his tender years will hold the world bronze medalist back in the time trial, which finishes at the foot of the Eiffel Tower on Saturday evening.

“Josh Tarling, man alive,” says Clancy.

“When you consider how young he is and how competent he is at time-trialling, British Cycling has someone who is potentially going to get medals in the Olympics for the next four, five cycles should he want to do such a thing.”

Read more of Ed Clancy’s pre-Olympics interview with i‘s sports news correspondent James Gray, here.