London 2012 Olympics: Jason Kenny wins fifth cycling gold for Britain

ON ANOTHER raucous night in the velodrome, Jason Kenny, the man who denied Sir Chris Hoy the opportunity to defend one of his three Olympic titles, was gloriously vindicated as he destroyed the favourite, Grégory Baugé of France, in the final of the men’s sprint.

• Cyclist Jason Kenny wins sprint gold

• Kenny was selected ahead of Sir Chris Hoy for event, meaning Scot was unable to defend Olympic title

It brings the British medals total in the velodrome to five golds and one bronze, to add to the gold, silver and bronze medals won in the road events. Kenny’s personal record is as remarkable: at just 24 he now has three Olympic gold medals and one silver.

His selection instead of Hoy put extra pressure on Kenny, but he said afterwards that it didn’t occur to him until the final ride of the competition, his second heat against Baugé. “It wasn’t something I thought about until the very last ride, when I thought: ‘If Chris was in my shoes, there’s no way he’d lose this, so I better justify myself’.”

Kenny looked over the whole three-day meeting as though he possessed more pure speed than anyone else, but the question, once he had reached the final, was how he would cope with the raw power and the physical challenge posed by Baugé, the huge Frenchman and three-time world champion.

In the first heat, Kenny let Baugé lead in the early laps, while he kept high on the banking, ready to strike. In the final two laps he began to wind it up, while the Frenchman kept a close eye. But Kenny was all over the track, swooping and diving up and down the banking, as though to try and confuse his opponent.

Baugé began sprinting but Kenny, coming from the top of the banking, was quickly on to him, and equally quickly past him. There seemed no question that he had the edge on speed. Baugé would have to try something different in round two.

He let Kenny lead this one out, while he sat back and considered his options. He didn’t attack, but let the pace build and as they came through for the bell both were fully committed, with Kenny leading and Baugé hunting him down. Often that favours the rider in second, who can tuck into the leader’s slipstream and then jump. But Kenny’s sheer speed made that impossible, and all Baugé could do was chase him all the way to the line, which Kenny crossed triumphant, punching the air.

Afterwards Kenny admitted it was “different” to his two previous golds, both in the team sprint, and “nice to enjoy the moment, to soak it up.” Of his strategy against Baugé, he explained: “After qualifying three days ago, I realised we had a bit more speed, which is a luxury, because it means that if you don’t make any mistakes you should come out on top.”

There was a surreal moment in the post-race press conference when, amid the journalists’ questions, Baugé asked whether he could ask Kenny his own question. Having beaten him consistently for three years, the Frenchman wanted to know what he had done differently for the Olympics. “It’s not like we do anything different,” said Kenny. “The Olympics is our main goal, as an athlete we try hard, and the team comes together.”

Baugé responded: “If I understand you well, for the next four years you will relax and in Rio you’ll be on top again?” He seemed to be in a state of disbelief.

Hoy has his chance today in the keirin. He is the defending champion in this event, too, and he will line up this morning as the favourite, though, as he always insists on pointing out, anything can happen when you have six sprinters in close proximity.

He has had four days to reflect and rest after his fifth Olympic gold medal in Thursday’s team sprint, which may prove an advantage – he usually races every day during track meetings. But at stake today, of course, is not just another gold, but the unofficial title of Britain’s greatest ever Olympian, since six golds would nudge him ahead of Sir Steve Redgrave, and equal, in number of medals, with Bradley Wiggins, though ‘only’ four of Wiggins’ medals are gold.

If Hoy does claim another gold, it will be added to another impressive pile for Britain’s track cycling team. Having won seven Olympic titles in the velodrome in Beijing, and with five here so far, there is every chance they could win three more today thanks to Hoy, Victoria Pendleton in the sprint and Laura Trott in the omnium.

Trott, the world omnium champion, leads the multi-discipline competition at the half-way stage, while Pendleton, who will retire after London, has looked as dominant in her event as Kenny was in his. Standing in her way is her bitter rival, the Australian Anna Meares. If both riders win their semi-finals, they will meet in what could be a rumbustious final.