UK Sport

Hoy takes World Track Crown

Lee Taylor 18 April 2006

Chris Hoy won gold in the kilometre time trial, with Britain claiming a six medal haul at the World Track Championships in Bordeaux, over the weekend.

Craig MacLean was also in the spotlight, picking up two silvers in both the men’s and team sprints, as Team GB totalled one gold, four silvers and a bronze. The other medal winners were the men’s team pursuit, Victoria Pendleton in the women’s sprint and Paul Manning in the men’s pursuit.

Hoy set a new best time of one minute 1.361 seconds to win his title, beating Australian Ben Kersten – who took the Commonwealth gold in Melbourne - into second place. Francois Pervis of France completed the podium line-up.

Britain took team sprint silver with Jamie Staff, Hoy and MacLean – who replaced Jason Queally in the final – coming home behind the French in a time of 44.194. The Arnaud Tournant anchored France team finished in 43.969. The men’s pursuit team also won silver, missing out on retaining their title to Australia. Stephen Cummings, Robert Hayles, Paul Manning and Geraint Thomas were beaten to the crown by the southern hemisphere nation, who finished just 0.036 seconds ahead of them.

Pendleton was forced to relinquish her world title to Natallia Tsylinska of Belarus in the sprint. The 25-year-old struggled in the first of the three legs and defeat in the second meant the silver medal was hers. MacLean’s second silver came on the final day in the men’s sprint. The 34-year-old finished behind Theo Bos of Holland to cap a successful couple of months which has also included victory in the team sprint with Scotland at the Commonwealth Games.

"The semi-final had taken a lot out of my legs and it was always going to be a big ask to beat Theo even without that," said the Scotsman. "But to pick up two world championship silvers and a gold at the Commonwealth Games makes for a much better summer," he added.

Britain’s bronze was claimed by Paul Manning in the men’s pursuit.

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