Dean Campbell, CTVOlympics.ca Staff 

The London 2012 Olympic Games get under way in six months time. To mark the occasion, CTVOlympics.ca staff writers have compiled a list of the top moments that have them excited ahead of the Games.

1.  Pendrel Goes for Gold in Women's Mountain Bike

I love this sport, and Canada's team is looking really good for London. Our headliner, Catharine Pendrel, won the 2010 World Cup title, the 2011 World Championships and even won the test event on the London course. The only thing left is Olympic gold. With a second spot on the squad open, Pendrel's teammate will likely be either veteran Marie-Hélène Prémont who won a silver medal in Athens 2004, or young Emily Batty, who has become an increasing threat in the World Cup series in her first year competing in the elite class.

2.  Changing of the Guard in Triathlon

Watching Simon Whitfield win gold at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, in the first ever Olympic triathlon was inspiring. It was also incredible to watch his fight to win the silver in Beijing 2008. Whitfield represents the best of his generation, and Canada's Paula Findlay is the next rising star in Canadian triathlon. She's had to fight some injuries but is almost unequalled as a runner, and has enjoyed incredible success in a short period of time. 

3.  A Few Centimetres More for Dylan Armstrong

Armstrong missed a bronze medal in the shot put event at Beijing 2008 by just one centimetre. Since then, he's set a Pan-Am Games record en route to the gold medal, and in 2011 claimed the Diamond League title. He's a big man with big ambitions, and while he was more or less unknown prior to Beijing 2008, he's stepped up his training to make certain he'll make his mark in London 2012.

4.  Clara Hughes On Two Wheels

Right, so this one's a bit of a gimmie. Hughes is the only Olympian to earn multiple medals in both Summer and Winter Games, and she's tied with fellow speed skater Cindy Klassen for a Canadian record six medals. In London, Hughes will be back in the saddle – literally – in cycling. She's earned two bronze medals in cycling, both at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games. This time around, she's focused on just one event, the Time Trial, and just one goal, a seventh Olympic medal.

5.  The Missile Launches

Mark Cavendish, the man known as the "Manx Missile," won the Olympic test road cycling event and went on to win the World Championships in 2011. Cavendish also won the sprinting title at the 2011 Tour de France. However, just like most of his competition, he'll only have six days after the end of "le Tour" before he competes in London. But he's going to have the help of four other riders on Team GB to help him get to the top of the podium. A win here, on the first day of competition, would set the tone for the British team.

Jennifer Lukas' Top Anticipated Moments for London 2012

Dean Campbell is the Digital lead Cycling sports producer for CTVOlympics.ca.   London 2012 will be his second Olympic Games.