In search of an unprecedented 28th track cycling world championship medal, Australian veteran Anna Meares admits she faces an uphill battle in the women's sprint event.
Meares, who won her 27th medal when she snatched silver in the keirin on Thursday night in London, says the level of competition in the sprint has never been as fierce.
She will, along with fellow Australians Kaarle McCulloch and Steph Morton, get stuck into qualifying for the 200m event starting Saturday morning (evening AEDT) - with the major finals to take place on Sunday.
But the sprint queen is taking nothing for granted.
"The sprint is going to be a very, very difficult contest," Meares said.
"One thing I've noticed about the sprint since (the 2012 London Olympics) is the depth and the quality has extended past rounds previous to London.
"Where (previously) you're really getting extended and stretched in the quarters, maybe, but definitely semis, you're starting to hit that type of riding right from round one.
"There are certainly no easy rides in the individual sprint."
Being an Olympic year, and with riders desperate to secure spots on increasingly competitive national teams, has only made the racing more cut-throat.
"This can sometimes be a harder competition because you've got in-battles within nations for positions," said Meares, who admits she has to prove herself against teammates Morton and McCulloch.
"People are wanting to be the best in their nation to get a start at the olympic games and so it's just so cutthroat. It's going to be an intense competition."
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