Cyclists Paul, Browne hit the track in Tokyo on Wednesday

TT cyclists Nicholas Paul and Kwesi Browne will compete in the men’s 200-metre flying start qualifying event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics at 2.30 am, on Wednesday (TT time).

Paul, 22, the world record holder in the event, will be eyeing a deep run at the Izu Velodrome.

He sprinted to the world record of 9.100 seconds on September 4, 2019 at the Pan American Track Cycling Championships in Bolivia. The previous mark of 9.347 was held by Frenchman Francois Pervis since 2013.

Browne, 27, will also aim for a strong showing in the quality field of 30 riders which includes Olympic record holder Jason Kenny of Great Britain.

Kenny, 33, who broke the record at the 2016 Rio Olympics is the two-time defending Olympic champion.

The top 24 cyclists will advance to the next phase (1/32 finals) of the competition which begins at 3.35 am, on Wednesday (TT time).

Paul and Browne have been training at the World Cycling Centre in Switzerland since October.

The Europeans are well represented in the field with Germany, Netherlands, Poland, the Russian Olympic Committee, Great Britain and France all having participants in the field. Australia and New Zealand also have cyclists expected to be in contention.

Colombian Kevin Quintero, also in the field, is the top ranked men’s elite cyclist on the UCI rankings as of July 26.