‘What if?’ is not in Laura’s thinking

LAURA KENNY believes X-rated horror crashes and motherhood have only sharpened her competitive instincts.

The most decorated British female Olympian of all-time (above) says she cannot allow “what if” scenarios to dominate her thinking when she is on the track.

And she also maintains the fact that now she is a proud mum to two-year-old Albert it has given her an edge that could prove crucial next year in Tokyo.

Kenny, who signed up for the Phynova Six-Day Series, the schedule of which was announced this week, said that she still has to train on the road, dodging the traffic near her Manchester base.

And, although the kind of smash that left Tour de France winner Chris Froome in a heap when he rode into a wall this summer – fracturing his neck, femur and breaking his hip – is a real danger, the 27-year-old says she cannot let that into her thinking.

She said: “You can’t let yourself think about any of the dangers – I have to train on the roads, it’s difficult enough secondguessing what might happen there.

“It’s not ideal, but that’s just what I have to do.

“I can’t think about any of the potential pitfalls on the track, either. I want to race how I should be racing. That’s passionately – using my instinct.

“The track is, by comparison, a safer environment, but I can’t allow what might have

Laura Kenny on her way to gold in the 2016 Rio Olympics happened to someone else dominate or enter my thoughts.

“It could affect me and, in an arena where you are making split-second decisions, that can determine whether or not you win a race –you just have to put it to the back of your mind.”

Kenny, who is married to fellow Olympian Jason, says that Albert, the latest addition to her family, is providing her with all the motivation to add to the four golds she has already earned.

She said: “He does motivate me. If I get to Tokyo, it will be great for him to share the buzz of the Olympics with us.

“My parents hadn’t been and they loved experiencing that atmosphere. I’m hoping it will be the same for him.”

Kenny won both the Omnium and Team Pursuit at both London and in Rio de Janeiro – and is looking towards making it three now that the Madison has been added to the roster.

That event has been included at Tokyo for the first time for the female riders.

Kenny said: “I’d like to throw my hat in the ring and go for all three.

“It fits quite neatly into the schedule, so I don’t really see it as much of a problem going for it.

“I’ve got the Europeans coming up and I’d like to give it a go there first... we’ll see what happens.”

Tickets for Phynova Six Day London from October 22-27 from £19, and to celebrate

Six Day Manchester 2020, all grandstand tickets for the event will be just £20. Book today at ticketmaster.co.uk/ sixdaylondon