HAMPTON WINS TRACK GOLD FOR 100% ME TEAM

Russell Hampton has shown the huge talent and potential in Britain?s young 100% ME team by taking a historic victory in the scratch race at the Los Angeles World Cup.

18 year-old Hampton was only tenth in the qualifying round but surprised all his rivals in the final by taking a lap thanks to his excellent pursuiting speed. Hampton finished ahead of Holland?s Wim Stroetinga and Argentina?s Walter Perez. Ben Swift, riding for Great Britain was seventh.

Hampton?s success on the track was the first for the recently created 100% ME team and proves the success and qualities of the under 23 riders in the development team that are expected to dominate endurance on the track at the 2012 London Olympics.

Cycling Weekly and Cycle Sport are proud that the I Support Drug Free Sport logo is on the team?s red and white jersey. We can only thank Hampton, the 100% ME team and British Cycling for their support for a clean sport.

Hampton is National Junior road race champion but also has the skills and speed to compete on the track. He will spend the season combining track racing with road racing as part of the 100% ME team based in Italy.

HOY AND EDGAR TAKE GOLD AND SILVER IN KEIRIN

Chris Hoy and Ross Edgar continued British success on day one in Los Angeles by dominating the men?s Keirin event. Both qualified for the final despite riding in the same second round qualifier. The two finished first and second and then repeated their powerful ride in the final, beating Aussie pair Shane Perkins and Scott Sunderland. Hoy and Edgar did not ride the kilometre with gold going to Francois Pervis in a time of 1:02.255.

In the men?s individual pursuit Andy Tennant finished eleventh riding for Great Britain with a time of 4:38.370 in qualifying, and former junior world champion Ian Stannard riding for 100% ME was seventeenth in 4:44.303. Vitalily Popov of the Ukraine won the gold in a time of 4:31.519, beating France?s Fabien Sanchez who set 4:37.066.

Hampton?s win will hopefully provide a boost to the men?s team pursuit squad who will compete for gold on Saturday night.

Podium photo courtesy of tissottiming.com.