Rio 2016 Monday 15th preview: Confident Cavendish, Payne and Thompson target medals as Dujardin defends dressage title

The 2016 Olympic Games is over halfway with the world’s best athletes battling it out for medals. Here are the most fascinating events happening on Monday in Rio, Brazil.

ONES TO WATCH:

Sailing has gone under the radar somewhat thus far, despite Nick Dempsey’s windsurfing silver medal. Team GB have another chance to pick up a medal in the laser competition through Nick Thompson, who goes into Monday’s tense double points medal race with 10 points separating third to sixth overall where the 31-year-old Thompson currently lies (MONDAY 18.05 BST).

THE MAIN EVENT:

GYMNASTICS - MEN’S RINGS FINAL (MONDAY 18.00 BST)

Arthur Zanetti carries the home nation’s hopes into this individual final, arguably the toughest of all the six disciplines. The 26-year-old is the defending champion from London 2012 and 2013 world champion, but has struggled to replicate that form in the last couple of years. He qualified fifth with China’s Liu Yang the best in qualification, Greece’s Eleftherios Petrounias second and You Hao third. Zanetti knows he will have to master his emotions in front of what promises to be a raucous set of home fans to repeat against a hard field.

THE RIVALRY:

ATHLETICS - MEN’S POLE VAULT (TUESDAY 0.35 BST)

Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie is the world record holder at 6.16m and reigning champion, but the 29-year-old’s gold medal haul at recent world championships sadly dims in comparison. Canadian youngster Shawn Barber shocked him and the rest of the field to win gold at the 2015 worlds in Beijing and represents the biggest threat alongside American Sam Kendricks and Poland’s Piotr Lisek. World junior champion Thiago Braz could also get on the podium for host Brazil, if he manages to put it all together.

THE UNDERDOG:

MARATHON SWIMMING - WOMEN’S 10KM (MONDAY 13.00 BST)

Britain’s Keri-Anne Payne was tipped for gold at London 2012 in home water, nevertheless found the expectation too much as she finished outside the medal spots. This time around she is hoping for a swim similar to the one that saw her win silver in Beijing, along with two world championship golds in 2009 and 2011. The 28-year-old starts this year’s event at Fort Copacabana an outsider with Brazilians Ana Marcela Cunha and Poliana Okimoto tipped to flourish ahead of her as pre-race favourites. World champion Aurelie Muller and defending champion Eva Risztov could also win this gruelling, niggly race.

THE REDEMPTION:

CYCLING - MEN’S OMNIUM (MONDAY 21.23 BST)

Mark Cavendish has enjoyed a stunning road cycling career. The Manxman won the coveted world championship jersey in 2011 and has claimed the points jersey at the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana along with an incredible haul of historic stage wins. Unfortunately for the highly driven 31-year-old, he has yet to win an Olympic medal while seeing his old track team-mates pick them up for fun. For his first attempt since 2008, he must get past two-time world champion Fernando Gaviria of Colombia and Italian Elia Viviani.

Stay tuned for daily previews throughout all the Olympic Games in Rio.

Follow @mattogborn on Twitter