Hoy leads gold rush in Manchester

by Agence France-Presse at 7:52 PM EST

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Categories: Pro Cycling, Track, Race Reports and Results

Sir Chris Hoy won the men's sprint in a race where Great Britain monopolised the podium at the Track World Cup here on Saturday.

Four-time Olympic champion Hoy, who claimed one of Britain's four victories on Friday's opening day by winning the keirin, defeated Matt Crampton 2-0 in the final.

Jason Kenny beat Australia's Shane Perkins 2-0 to claim bronze for Britain.

"If they weren't around pushing me on, there's no question I wouldn't be performing at the level I am at the moment," said Hoy, who will be 36 come the 2012 Games in London, of his Great Britain team-mates.

"They're inspiring me and pushing me on and I'm just really grateful they're there - but I don't know how much longer I'll be grateful for.

"It's getting closer and closer, but hopefully I can hold them off to London and they can have a great Olympics in 2016."

Olympic and world champion Victoria Pendleton followed up her sprint gold on Friday with a 500metres time-trial silver, setting a personal best of 33.838 seconds as Australia's Anna Meares won gold.

Britain's Wendy Houvenaghel won the women's individual pursuit after catching Australia's Josephine Tomic in the final.

Houvenaghel, the Olympic and world silver medallist, is one of several female cyclists, including Beijing champion and fellow Briton Rebecca Romero, who are angry the event faces the axe in London in a bid to ensure gender parity across all track races.

"It's devastating because this is an event that I've specialised in for the last three-and-a-half years," said Houvenaghel.

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