Hampton rides for former Tour de France star Magnus Backstedt's team

Pitsea cyclist Russell Hampton believes road racing rather than the velodrome offers him the best chance of making it to the London Olympics in 2012.

The 22-year-old currently races for the Swedish-based Sprocket Procycling team across Europe.

He told BBC Essex that with fewer track events scheduled for two years time, opportunities were ever more limited.

"We've got quite a big track team and it's quite competitive, so I'm focusing more on the road," he said.

"There's people now who are just track-based now, whereas it used to be road pros who dropped in."

Hampton, who is a product of the Great Britain Academy programme explained that with under two years to go, the next few months would be crucial.

"2011 is going to be a big year for everyone in every sport who are looking at the Olympics.

"That's the year that you want to really stamp your mark before the Games."

As well as the Olympics, Russell's ultimate aim is a shot at the Tour de France.

"My team manager is a former Tour de France stage winner, Magnus Backstedt, and he's told me stories about the tour and it's just the ultimate in cycling" he said.

"Just watching it you wonder how on earth are they doing it for 21 days, it's just incredible, but that's what I'm focused on."

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