AUSTRALIAN cycling team boss Kevin Tabotta is confident his riders can turn their near misses at the world championships into Olympic medals in Rio in   August.
Australia finished third on the medal tally at the London track world championships which closed yesterday behind arch-rival Great Britain and Germany. 
Of its two gold medals, only one was an Olympic event - the men's team pursuit - while GB won five gold medals including two which will be on the program in Rio.
Overall, of the 10 Olympic events that were contested in London last week, Australia medalled in four, while also recording seven top-five finishes meaning there is work to be done with tomorrow marking 150 days to the Games.
Great Britain still managed to top the medal tally despite reports of in-fighting stemming from Katie Archibald's motorbike accident and injury pre-worlds, and its women's team sprint failing to even qualify for the Olympics.
Australia has qualified for every track event on the program in Rio and Tabotta said he was "encouraged" by the results in London.
"We're in a really good position," he said. "We know our plan between now and Rio and we also don't have to worry about qualifying for the Olympics, we don't have to worry about peaking for events in between, we don't have to worry about travelling to far-flung places to deliver performances.
"Given the circumstances there's a lot of up. I'm confident we can convert those fourth and fifth places into medals by Rio." The team's oldest member , sprinter Anna Meares, again underlined her importance to Australia's medal hopes with silver in the keirin and fourth p in the sprint yesterday.
"I'm really quite pleased," Meares, 32, said.
"For me getting into the final four of the sprint was a huge step, for my confidence, for just getting that feeling back again."
ASHES ON WHEELS - ALL EYES ON RIO GOLD SOLVER BRONZE GOLD IN OLYMPIC EVENTS 2012 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Great Britain 6 4 3 5 Australia 6 6 3 3 2012 LONDON OLYMPICS Great Britain 7 1 1 Australia 1 1 3 2016 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Great Britain 5 1 3 2 Australia 2 2 3 1 2016 RIO OLYMPICS Great Britain ? ? ? ?Australia ? ? ? ?