Gold may still prove elusive, but Evans eager to embrace Glasgow Games

“It’s completely changed how I think about it. I thought I’d be coming into this in a great place and trying to get that gold medal. But having had that time off, you just completely rethink it.

“It’s frustrating knowing what I would like to do versus where I’m actually at. But I’m just really grateful that I’ll be in a good enough form to race and compete.”

Standing atop the podium, with Flower of Scotland reverberating around the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome has – Evans confesses – fleetingly returned to her dreams. But she accepts it’s a long shot.

Instead, she is determined to enjoy the occasion and enjoy competing in front of a home crowd – even if realising she is now one of the old heads in the team caused her brow to furrow.

“It sounds so cheesy, but honestly, when everything in your body is screaming at you to stop, and you feel sick, and your legs are burning, it’s amazing how you can just squeeze something extra out when the crowd gets behind you,” she says.

“I love racing in Glasgow. I 100% would not be a cyclist if this velodrome didn’t exist. So there’s something really nice about coming back here, and the Glasgow crowd is always, always loud. And it’s always a lot of fun.”