Cycling: Chris Hoy faces tough opening test

SIR Chris Hoy will have his first competitive outing of 2012 when he contests tomorrow’s Revolution Meeting in Manchester.

Hoy recently returned from a training camp in Australia, and while happy with his current form he is keen to assess his fitness in a competitive situation ahead of next month’s World Cup at the recently completed London Velodrome – the venue for this summer’s Olympics.

The 35 year-old faces a stiff test against his Team Sky colleague Jason Kenny, who was recently crowned world champion following the retrospective disqualification of Frenchman Gregory Bauge for missing drugs tests – a decision that saw Hoy promoted to the silver medal.

Also in the line-up will be European Keirin champion Matt Crampton, a strong French trio comprising Mickael Bourgain, Michael D’Almedia and Quentin Lafargue, and some of Britain’s best young talent – including City of Edinburgh’s world junior champion John Paul.

It promises to be a long day in the saddle, with sprint qualifying taking place early in the afternoon and the final being contested around 10pm, shortly before Hoy links up with Kenny and Crampton for the team sprint finale against the French threesome.