Hoy's recuperation continues as he sprints to World Cup gold

Published on Saturday 31 October 2009 20:11

SIR Chris Hoy led a Great Britain one-two-three in the men's sprint on the second day of the Track World Cup at the Manchester Velodrome.

Four-time Olympic champion Hoy, who claimed one of Britain's four victories on the opening day by winning the keirin, defeated Matt Crampton 2-0 in the final for Britain's second gold of the evening after Wendy Houvenaghel's women's individual pursuit triumph.

Jason Kenny beat Australia's Shane Perkins 2-0 to claim bronze for Britain to take all three places on the podium as the hosts continued their domination of the season's first World Cup meeting.

Hoy paid tribute to his team-mates, but hopes to stay ahead of 23-year-old Crampton and 21-year-old Kenny – the Beijing silver medallist – until after the London Games. "If they weren't around pushing me on, there's no question I wouldn't be performing at the level I am at the moment," said Hoy. "It's getting closer and closer, but hopefully I can hold them off to London and they can have a great Olympics in 2016."

After four wins from six events on the opening day, Houvenaghel followed up Victoria Pendleton's silver in the women's 500metres time-trial with victory in the women's individual pursuit. The Olympic and world silver-medallist caught Josephine Tomic of Australia to win the final.

Pendleton's bid for her second fifth gold from seven events fell short when the 29-year-old clocked 33.838 seconds in the time-trial to finish second to 2004 Olympic champion Anna Meares of Australia, who finished in 33.632secs.