29th Olympic Games - JO

Beijing, China, August 9-23, 2008

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Event 16 - August 16: Men's Keirin Final

Hoy unstoppable in keirin

By Rob Jones in Beijing

Gold and silver for the Brits
Photo ©: Rob Jones

Hoy was unstoppable in the keirin, on his way to a second gold medal in two days. In both of his first two rides he got to the front of the group and behind the pace bike, and then just upped the pace when the moto swung off until he had burned everyone off his wheel.

The final consisted of Hoy, his team-mate Ross Edgar, Arnaud Tournant (France), Shane Kelly (Australia), Carsten Bergemann (Germany) and Kiyofumi Nagai (Japan). Among the big names not making it through were the Dutch riders Theo Bos (crash) and Teun Mulder, plus Gregory Bauge (France) and defending Olympic champion Ryan Bayley (Australia).

In the final, Edgar got the front spot, and then eased back to let Hoy in. Shortly before the pacer pulled off, Edgar let a gap open to Hoy at the front, helping Hoy to launch the winning move. Edgar then followed that up with a come from behind ride past Nagai to take the silver. Nagai, who gave up a lucrative pro keirin career in Japan, took the bronze medal.

"We knew coming in that if I got the front and got the [moto] bike, I would open up a spot for Chris," said Edgar. "He can go long and I can protect, and then go for my own finish. I got boxed in a bit and had a bit of a shoulder rub with Shane [Kelly]. But I squeezed through and was down the track after Chris."

"It's beyond expectations, I think this is a race I'll remember for a long time," said Hoy. "It's just fantastic that Ross got silver as well. I left it a little later than normal, because I knew that if I went full gas they might pass me. I had to think about the finish like nothing else."

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by AFP Photo

• Chris Hoy is ahead of the Keirin pack and celebrates his gold medal.
• Ross Edgar was ahead of compatriot Chris Hoy only during the victory lap, but was happy with silver.
• Japan's Kiyofumi Nagai was content with bronze and celebrated accordingly

Images by Casey Gibson/www.cbgphoto.com

• Ross Edgar takes second in the men's keirin.
• Chris Hoy celebrates another gold in the Keirin.
• Keirin medalists Hoy and Edgar pose with the flag.
• Hoy takes the Keirin easily.
• A keirin heat in the velodrome.
• Japan leads the Keirin final for a short time.
• Keirin medalists Nagai, Hoy, and Edgar
• Gideon Massie tries to hold off the field in the Keirin repachage.

Images by Rob Jones/www.canadiancyclist.com

• Chris Hoy's girlfriend and family watch anxiously
• Chris Hoy (Great Britain) rides away from the competition in second round.
• Theo Bos (Netherlands) and Kamil Kuczynski (Poland) go down in their second round.
• Trying to disentangle Theo Bos from his bike
• Chris Hoy (Great Britain) is unstoppable.
• Ross Edgar (Great Britain) takes silver.
• Kiyofumi Nagai (Japan) eventually takes bronze.
• Ryan Bayley (Australia) finishes behind Gregory Bauge (France) in the ride for seventh.
• Ryan Bayley (Australia) in the ride for seventh to 12th.
• Great Britain finish one-two.
• Gold and silver for the Brits
• Chris Hoy flies the flag
• ...And congratulates team-mate Ross Edgar
• A gold medal for Chris Hoy
• Men's keirin podium
• Chris Hoy on the big screen.

Results

Final
1 Chris Hoy (Great Britain)            
2 Ross Edgar (Great Britain)           
3 Kiyofumi Nagai (Japan)               
4 Shane Kelly (Australia)              
5 Carsten Bergemann (Germany)          
6 Arnaud Tournant (France)  

Place 7-12
1 Gregory Bauge (France)               
2 Ryan Bayley (Australia)              
3 Josiah Ng (Malaysia)                 
4 Mohd Azizulhasni Awang (Malaysia)    
5 Kamil Kuczynski (Poland)             
DNS Theo Bos (Netherlands)             

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