Pedal problem stalls Hoy's gold medal search

At the venue where the four-time Olympic champion won his first world champion's rainbow jersey in 2002 and suffered a career-threatening hip injury on Valentine's Day in 2009, Hoy's rhythm appeared to be upset by a problem with his pedal prior to the start of Britain's qualification ride.

The British trio of Jason Kenny, Ross Edgar and Hoy were third behind France and eventual winners Germany before beating China to bronze in a restarted race for the podium after Kenny's foot came out of his pedal.

Wendy Houvenaghel had won Britain's first medal of the opening day of the championships, but could only claim her second successive silver medal in the women's individual pursuit.

Britain are the Olympic champions and world record holders in the men's team sprint, but have not won a world title since 2005 in Los Angeles – and must now wait until Apeldoorn in 2011 to try to end the run.

Hoy, who has twice won the team sprint world title and turned 34 on Tuesday, missed the 2009 World Championships in Pruszkow, Poland and is competing in his first global competition since the Beijing Olympic Games, where he won three gold medals.

Britain's heat with Australia was delayed with Hoy snapping his right pedal, which had to be replaced. That left Kenny and Edgar poised at the start and Hoy waiting to mount his bike as the countdown to the start began. A ride lacking the usual punch meant Britain could not ride off for gold.

The race for bronze with China was also troubled by a British pedal problem when Kenny pulled his right foot out of the straps as he powered away at the start.

But Kenny, who shares the same birthday as Hoy and turned 22 this week, recovered to post a scintillating opening lap of 17.291 seconds in the restarted race.

Edgar and Hoy, on the anchor leg, completed the victory in a time of 43.590seconds for Britain's second medal of the championships.