Comeback man Hoy takes maiden national sprint title

Cycling Weekly's gallery from day three at the national track championships>>>

Back on the track after missing the end of last season with a hip injury, the Olympic champion wasted no time in showing that he is back to full fitness last night in Manchester. Hoy saw off a star-studded men's sprint field to claim victory.



Oddly - for a 33-year-old champion who has taken track accolades across the board - it is Hoy's first elite national sprint title, having secured silver and bronze medals in the past.



After qualifying fastest, setting a new track record with his ride of 9.99, Hoy had no problems dispatching of Matt Crampton in the gold medal ride-off, after the 23-year-old overcame Jason Kenny in a hard-fought semi final.

However, Olympic silver medallist Kenny did secure the bronze medal, outgunning Great Britain team-mate Ross Edgar.

Men's individual pursuit

Geraint Thomas won the men's individual pursuit, comfortably beating Halfords Bikehut man Andy Tennant. Ben Swift showed that he has found his track legs by overcoming Stephen Burke to take the bronze medal.

Putting a road season riddled with bad luck behind him, Welshman Thomas was always in command in the final, repeating his authoritative qualifying ride of 4-18 to claim a first senior title.



To put his rides in perspective, the times would have been good enough to claim silver at the Beijing Olympics.

"It's not bad," commented Thomas modestly. "I was pleased that the final was much smoother too, though I had nothing left over the last two laps."

Thomas added that he was looking forward to Manchester and believes that he can go even quicker.

"I can't wait to get there and try to knock out some fast times again," he said tenaciously.

Women's scratch race

Track starlet Lizzie Armitstead triumphed in the women's scratch race.

In a cagey event,the Lotto Belisol lady repeatedly tried to escape, but could not avoid a bunch sprint ending.

Undeterred, the world team pursuit champion wound things up on the bell lap to hold off her closest challengers.



Individual pursuit runner-up Hannah Mayho (100% Me) had to settle for another silver medal, while Dani King (Vision 1 Racing) took the bronze.

Ross Edgar and Chris Hoy go head to head at the British national track championships in Manchester.

Lizzie Armitstead is joined by Hannah Mayho (left) and Dani King (right) on the podium for the women's scratch race at the track championships.

Results

British Track National Championships 2009: Men's sprint

1. Chris Hoy (Team Sky+ HD)

2. Matt Crampton (Science in Sport)

3. Jason Kenny (Team Sky+ HD)

4. Ross Edgar (Team Sky+ HD)



Men's individual pursuit

Bronze medal race

Ben Swift (Team Katusha) 4-29.138 beat Steven Burke (100% ME) 4-31.827

Gold medal race

Geraint Thomas (Barloworld) 4-18.418 beat Andrew Tennant (Team Halfords Bikehut) 4-24.943

Results

1. Geraint Thomas (Barloworld)

2. Andrew Tennant (Team Halfords Bikehut)

3. Ben Swift (Team Katusha)

4. Steven Burke (100% ME)

5. Alex Dowsett (100% ME) 4-34.091

6. Andrew Fenn (100% ME) 4-34.911

7. Adam Duggleby (Shorter Rochford) 4-40.671

8. Andrew Magnier (Planet X) 4-43.712

Eliminated

9. Tim Kennaugh (Team Manx Telecom) 4-43.342

10. Arthur Doyle (Dooley's CRT) 4-44.073

Women's scratch race

1. Lizzie Armitstead (Lotto-Belisol)

2. Hannah Mayho (100% ME)

3. Dani King (Vision 1 Racing)