BOLTON Olympic medalist Jason Kenny is gearing up for another stab at glory next summer.

The 23-year-old sprint cyclist, who won gold in the team sprint event in Beijing three years ago, says the excitement is building ahead of the Olympics in London next summer.

He said: “The Games are not that far away now and everyone has got their eye on being selected and riding well. We haven’t got that many races left so every race I take part in now is important.

“The crowds in Beijing were fantastic, as were the ones at the World Cups in Manchester and I think next year will be the same. It is going to be very special with the Olympics being in London.”

It has been a fantastic year so far for Kenny, who secured silver in the individual sprint in Manchester in February, beating fellow Brit, Sir Chris Hoy, on the way.

He said: “It will be good to join back-up with the guys. It has been a pretty decent year so far but I have a lot of work to do over the next few months before the Olympics. The season really gets started soon with the nationals and the Europeans and then the World Cup before going on to the Olympics.”

Kenny expressed his admiration for his Team GB team-mates Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish, who experienced contrasting agony and glory in this year’s Tour de France.

Chorley-based Wiggins crashed out with a broken collarbone before the race even hit the mountains while Cavendish claimed a first-ever green points jersey and took his overall stage wins tally to 20.

Kenny said: “It is fantastic what Mark did this summer, and on the flip side it was disappointing for Brad to crash out but he will be back stronger. It really is amazing what those guys do and it was a great race this year.

“There is no way I could do that, it isn’t in my make-up but you have to take your hat off to Mark and Brad and people like Geraint Thomas who had a good tour as well.”