Taylor Phinney’s 14-year-old sister Kelsey is providing regular updates on events surrounding her big brother’s Olympic debut in Beijing.

I’m sitting in my hotel room trying to be patient. Taylor races in a few hours against Volodymyr Dudya from Ukraine. Both of them want to get into the top eight so they can compete in the final round tomorrow. It’s hard for me to say how Taylor is feeling right now, simply because I haven’t spoken to him in a few days. I believe, though, that he is more excited than nervous and just all around happy to be part of the Olympics.

Today is a hot day, which means the times for the pursuit should be much faster than the World Cup times in December. I spoke to my mom earlier and she told me that during Tay’s training, he is riding faster than he rode in Bordeaux. Hopefully he will make the top eight tonight, knock on wood, cross your fingers and wish him luck even…if he doesn’t need it.

I’ll write back with all the details of his first race! ~Kelsey