Cycling: Hoy knew Keirin crash was coming

Published on Monday 16 February 2009 09:21

SIR CHRIS HOY was surprised that Saturday's high-speed crash was the first serious fall he had suffered in the rough and tumble of Keirin racing since switching to the event almost three years ago.

After taking gold in Friday's team sprint, the 32-year-old Capital rider was on track for his second victory of the weekend at the UCI World Cup in Copenhagen, having eased through the early rounds convincingly.

However, instead of adopting his normal approach of controlling the race from the front, he changed tactics in the final and that proved his undoing as he tangled with Frenchman Kevin Sireau and crashed while travelling at full speed.

The incident left Hoy's bike smashed in several places while he suffered heavy bruising and cuts, with his hip taking most of the impact, although x-rays confirmed no fractures. Hoy said: "These things happen and it was a racing incident. It is a miracle I have had around thirty races without a crash since I started riding the Keirin in 2006."

Hoy will now spend time recovering at home before defending his world titles in Poland next month.