Hoy relishing British rivalry ahead of World Cup curtain raiser in Melbourne

SIR Chris Hoy insists he's relishing the challenge from within the British ranks at present - even if it jeopardises his hopes of defending his three Olympic titles at London 2012.

COMPETITION: Sir Chris Hoy knows he faces plenty of competition to ensure he gets the chance to defend his three Olympic titles at London 2012 (Reuters)

The 34-year-old Scot will begin his UCI World Cup Classics campaign in Melbourne this week where he will be joined compatriots Matt Crampton and Jason Kenny.

The team sprint takes priority as that is where sprinters can accrue Olympic qualifying points for all three of their London 2012 events but the individual disciplines will allow for point-scoring of another kind.

After world governing body the UCI introduced changes to the Olympic programme, only one rider per nation can compete in each event ensuring Hoy will have to supersede the likes of Kenny, Crampton, Ross Edgar and David Daniell.

Kenny captured keirin bronze at the recent European Championships after Hoy pulled out following his embarrassing defeat to Irish teenager Felix English in the sprint competition, while Daniell collected keirin silver at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

But Hoy believes he has been in a similar situation before.  

"I like the competition and it can create a really competitive training environment which will push us all on," said Hoy.

"When I used to ride the kilo there were people like Jason Queally, Craig MacLean and Jamie Staff and they were teammates as well as rivals.

"And it's not as if there is only Jason performing well at the moment. There's plenty of others so there is always a fight to earn your place on the team.

"To be honest, at the end of the day you want your teammates to be as fast as you when you're lining up with them in the sprint competition."