Stars descend on London for Velodrome’s big debut
LONDON 2012 medal hopes Sir Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton will give the striking Olympic Velodrome its first taste of competitive action this weekend at the Track Cycling World Cup, which begins today.
The competition is not only the final leg of the four-event World Cup calendar, but also acts as a test event for the Games and will help determine the composition of Team GB at London 2012. All four days of the competition have sold out, meaning up to 24,000 spectators will witness an elite field including a strong Australian line-up get a taste of the conditions awaiting them in August.
Hoy, who is seeking a 50th World Cup medal, faces a duel with fellow Briton Jason Kenny as they battle for the sole Team GB sprint place on offer. The clash is vital to Hoy’s ambition of defending his three Olympic titles – sprint, team sprint and keirin – on home soil. Kenny, who won silver in Beijing four years ago, has since been crowned world champion, leaving British Cycling head coach Shane Sutton with a selection dilemma.
Olympic sprint gold medallist Pendleton and compatriot Jess Varnish face daunting opposition in Australian world champion Anna Meares and Kaarle McCulloch.
Action begins this evening with the team pursuits, where Geraint Thomas and the world championship-winning women’s squad will carry British hopes.