Talisman Hoy leading Britain from the front

Hoy, who won three gold medals in the 2008 Games, completed a stunning performance from Great Britain in the Olympic test event with victory in the sprint to follow up his keirin triumph on day three and third place in the team sprint on Friday’s second day.

In all, Britain won eight medals from 10 Olympic events – four gold, one silver and two bronze – plus Joanna Rowsell’s gold in the non-Olympic individual pursuit.

On yesterday’s final day, Hoy led the charge as the men’s team pursuit squad finished runners-up to arch-rivals Australia – who clocked the third fastest time in history – and Laura Trott claimed bronze in the multi-discipline omnium, but Victoria Pendleton had to settle for fifth in the keirin.

Once again, Hoy was the team talisman, leaving observers in no doubt that – although he is 36 on March 23 – he remains in peak condition. It was an ominous warning to his rivals ahead of August’s Olympic track competition. The 35-year-old Scot said: “I was expecting some good performances, but this is the best I’ve been since Beijing. No question.

“I did my best performance in the team sprint last lap since Beijing. I did a 9.93 (seconds, in sprint qualifying) today and the keirin last night I hit my fastest ever speed in that race (78.4kph).

“It’s not just the cold figures, it’s also how you approach the racing. I’ve been a bit more confident, taking the race by the scruff of the neck and I’ve really enjoyed it.”

Hoy also believes the British team can take a lot of confidence from their display in front of a 6,000-capacity partisan crowd ahead of April’s Track Cycling World Championships in Melbourne and the Olympics.

He said: “This is the best we’ve been as a team since Beijing. The fact we’ve been very good in a number of events on the Olympic track itself means you come back here and get that good vibe.

“It’s like racing in Manchester. We’ve got so many positive experiences to draw upon. We’ll benefit from this.”

Hoy, himself, took belief from coming from behind to knock out two-time world champion Gregory Bauge of France with a 2-1 quarter-final win, before advancing 2-0 from the semi-finals at the expense of Robert Forstemann.

Maximilian Levy, another German, was the opponent in the final and Hoy showed nerve to hold his line on the back straight and then showed his trademark acceleration to claim victory.

Hoy added: “I dug deep and I knew with the inside line I could take him.”

Only one rider or team per nation can take part in each event in the Games, leaving Jason Kenny, Olympic silver medallist and current world champion, vying with Hoy for the British place.

Despite appearing to take the initiative in that duel, Hoy maintains Kenny – 12 years his junior – is still a formidable rival.

He said: “It’s not over by a long shot. Jason’s not going to lie down and accept it. He’s not far away.”

In the team pursuit, world champions Australia qualified fastest on Thursday night, with the teams made to wait for the final to satisfy the television schedule demands to show the blue ribband event.

The ‘Ashes’ duel did not disappoint as Jack Bobridge, Rohan Dennis, Alex Edmondson and Michael Hepburn won in three minutes 54.615 and the British quartet of Barnsley-born Ed Clancy, Geraint Thomas, Steven Burke and Peter Kennaugh finished in 3mins 56.330secs.

Australia’s time was behind only Britain’s world record of 3:53.314, set in winning gold in Beijing in 2008, and another effort by the hosts from November 2009. There was drama too, as Thomas ran into Kennaugh’s rear wheel and had to take evasive action. Burke, who recently recovered from shingles, had slowed at the front, contributing to the near-pile up and Clancy had to fill the gap.

“I hit the wheel and ended up nearly crashing,” said Thomas, who was satisfied with the performance, but not his own display.”

Clancy added: “We knew we’d be up against it. The Aussies have got a superstar team, but we’ve got more to come.”