Hoy powers GB to cycling glory

SCOTLAND'S Chris Hoy landed the Olympic team sprint title in Beijing today after blitzing world Champions France in the gold medal showdown at the Laoshan Velodrome.

Team GB and France have been locked in a war of words all week, following the pair's spectacular World Championship clash earlier this year.

France pipped Team GB to gold in Manchester by just 0.4 seconds but when it mattered most in the Far East - Hoy, triple world junior medallist Jason Kenny and former BMX star Jamie Staff topped the podium in Beijing.

Hoy and the British squad had made some extravagant claims this week about times recorded in practice by Team GB stars in Beijing but in their opening race the British trio backed up their bold predictions of setting new world best times.

Britain recorded a world record in their opening appearance on the track - clocking an electrifying time of 42.95 seconds - with opening lap rider Staff setting an individual best ever time in the process of 17.98 seconds.

The French bounced back and guaranteed their appearance in a gold medal showdown in impressive style, seeing off Malaysia in 43.655 seconds.

Team GB then hit back as they laid down a sizeable marker - powering home ahead of America to set up a repeat performance of the Manchester World Champs, clocking 43.034 seconds - to confirm their status as pre-final favourites.

After road race success for British cyclists Emma Pooley and Nicola Cooke earlier this week Hoy and co. ensured Team GB dominance continued as they comfortably saw off France in the final.

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Staff and Kenny set Team GB on their way to gold, allowing Hoy to blast home on the final leg as the British trio snatched the gold by 0.5 seconds in 43.128 seconds in a tense finale at the Velodrome.

In the bronze medal showdown - Germany pipped Australia to the final podium position in 44.014 seconds.

MATT DAVIS in Beijing