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Hoy dealt Olympic blow in sprint defeat to Kenny

Sir Chris Hoy accepted defeat to Jason Kenny graciously © Getty Images

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Sir Chris Hoy suffered a major setback in his London 2012 preparations after he was beaten by fellow Briton Jason Kenny in the men's sprint semi-finals at the World Championships on Friday.

Hoy won the world title in Manchester back in 2008 en route to taking gold in the Beijing Olympics, coincidentally in a final against Kenny. However, under new rules only one competitor can represent Great Britain in each discipline at the Olympics, so Kenny's victory could prove significant when the final team is selected next year.

Hoy was beaten 2-0 in the semi-finals, with Kenny allowing the Scot significant advantages in both races before storming through towards the line. The second duel was particularly close, with Kenny snatching victory with his final rotation.

There was no gold medal for Kenny though, who was well beaten by France's Gregory Bauge, who has now won three consecutive world titles. Hoy, meanwhile, battled back from a one-race deficit to claim bronze.

Victoria Pendleton had too much for fellow Brit Becky James in the women's sprint heats. Pendleton is chasing a fifth successive world title, and a sixth overall, and she thundered back impressively after James had taken the fight to her more illustrious counterpart. The Olympic champion then booked her place in Saturday's semi-finals, where she will meet major rival Anna Meares.

Meares knocked out Jess Varnish en route to the last four, boasting too much power as the Briton exited the competition. Neither James nor Varnish were able to give themselves a second chance by winning the repechage.

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