“Listen, that Dutch team is in a league of its own,” the 27-year-old told BBC Sport Scotland. “We came in here hoping for a podium and probably surpassed what we thought we could do.

“The two boys in their first Olympics, first event, stepped up massively and dealt with the pressure and that’s kudos to them.”

As Lowe and Turnbull drank in the scenes afterwards – all medals and media – Carlin looked on like a proud da. In the tribunes was the Scot’s own father and his partner, plus his mother and brother.

After having nobody there to watch in Covid-restricted Tokyo, that made this silver a little more special than his now chipped, battered first.

“I’m going to keep this one in better nick,” he said. “It’s really not sunk in yet, but it’s special because you’re celebrating in front of your friends and family.

“It’s almost sinking in now while we’re speaking…”

While silver was a repeat of three years ago, experience doesn’t make it any easier. Even if a 14th Olympic, world and European medal is some sort of balm for the sting of missing out again.

But not one of those 14 bits of metal are the colour Carlin most desires.

The Paisley rider will get another chance in the individual event – as well as the keirin – over the next couple of days, having claimed bronze in Tokyo, but will still have to overcome a man he describes as “the best track sprinter of all time”.

Dutchman Harrie Lavreysen has become close to unbeatable in recent years

“There’s still five days of racing and I feel good so we’ll see how it goes,” Carlin added. “I’ve still got my head screwed on and my legs are feeling really good.”