Gold rush man Hoy gears up for next test

Published on Friday 29 August 2008 10:21

TRIPLE Olympic champion Chris Hoy will be back in the saddle tomorrow night at the Salford Nocturne event.

However, there will be none of the pressure that was a feature of his time in Beijing as the 32-year-old Capital man lines up in a roller race. Hoy will be clocked over 500 metres and other riders will attempt to beat his time.

There will be more serious racing on the agenda when another Capital-based man, Evan Oliphant, lines up in the Pannone Elite Criterium later in the evening chasing the top prize of 1000 against a strong field that includes Olympic team pursuit gold medallists Geraint Thomas and Ed Clancy.

Oliphant's involvement means that he will miss the rescheduled Scottish 15-kilometre track championship at Caird Park in Dundee.

Capital cyclist Ross Crook will bid to retain the title at the second time of asking, having had his bid for a successful defence rained off in July.

Crook's stiffest test is likely to come from previous winner James McCallum.