HOY AND PENDLETON COMPLETE SPRINT CLEAN SWEEP

Chris Hoy Jason Kenny Gold silver Olympics 2008

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Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton completed a clean sweep of the sprint titles here in Laoshan on the final day of track racing, each winning their sprint competitions.

Hoy?s win wrote the Scotsman in to the sporting record books as he became the first Briton in 100 years to win three golds in one Olympics. He added the sprint competition to his team sprint and Keirin titles when he beat team-mate Jason Kenny 2-0 in the final.

Kenny had offered Hoy some fierce competition in both legs of the final, which is more than can be said for any other sprinter in this competition.

Check out Cycling Weekly's images from the final day on the track>>

Kenny was forced to lead out both sprints, and in the first Hoy only just came past the 20-year-old from Bolton. British Cycling?s sprint coach Jan Van Eijden, the tactical mastermind who has helped Britain?s sprinters become world beaters, had been ordered not to give either rider any advice, leaving them to figure it out for themselves.

With a greater top end speed, but not necessarily more match sprint experience, it was always Hoy with the advantage. The Scot has not once been beaten during these Olympics. He was in the fastest Team Sprint trio in each of their three rides (as was Kenny), won all his Keirin rounds and then qualified fastest in the sprint before beating every rider who dared get on the track with him.

It was a stunning set of rides set over five gruelling days for the Scot whose emotions finally got the better of him once it was all over.

Pendleton fulfils potential

Having contemplated giving up the sport after her nightmare in Athens, Victoria Pendleton was equally dominant in the women?s sprint. The 27-year-old from Hitchin in Hertfordshire set an Olympic record in qualifying and was never really challenged in any of her matches.

No other female sprinter has progressed at the same rate as Pendleton, and all her former foes have faded in her wake. Worlds silver medallist Simona Krupeckaite was so intimidated by Pendleton?s prowess that she was panicked in to starting her quarter-final sprints against the Brit almost from the gun.

It was a tactic doomed to failure as Pendleton has always had the edge when it comes to top end speed and duly beat the Lithuanian by several bike lengths.

Pendleton said afterwards that her transformation was in large part to the team?s psychiatrist Steve Peters. Dave Brailsford has often referred to Peters simply as ?a genius? as he has worked wonders with many of the British riders, and indeed the staff, helping them focus on nothing but the task in hand.

The task now in hand would seem to be having a massive party, and that?s not something you need a psychiatrist for.

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OLYMPIC GAMES 2008: TRACK

Preview: Day five at the Laoshan

Brad on Cav: He's like a schoolkid he's so up for it

Day four as it happened: Team pursuit gold and another world record

Day three summary: Gold for Romero. Pendleton, Hoy in charge in sprints. Kenny the revelation

From rower to cyclist: Romero takes an emotional gold

Brits smash world team pursuit record in round one

Tough day for the Dutch

Preview: Monday at the Laoshan

Day two in pictures

Sunday's action as it happened

Preview: Sunday at the Laoshan

Day two at the track: Summary of the action

Hoy and Edgar clean up in the Keirin

Wiggins gets pursuit gold, Burke wins bronze

Newton storms to bronze in points race

Saturday's action as it happened: Two gold, a silver and two bronze for Britain

Blog: Life in Laoshan

Day one in pictures

Brits blast to team sprint gold

Day one at the track: Summary of the action

Friday's action as it happened: Gold for team sprint trio; Wiggins, Houvenaghel and Romero well in control

Burke blasts to new individual pursuit PB

British track stars raring to go

What makes the Laoshan such a challenge

Picture special: CW takes you inside the Laoshan velodrome

Saturday's preview

Friday's preview

Can these legs make an Olympic champion?

Cavendish unlikely to ride individual pursuit

How many medals will Britain's riders win?

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OLYMPIC GAMES 2008: NEWS

Positive test for cyclist at Olympic Games

Bettini chasing second Olympic gold

Romero poses nude for ad

British quartet eyeing new world record

As Olympics approach two new drugs emerge

Beijing Blog

Beijing Blog 2

Beijing Blog 3

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OLYMPIC GAMES 2008: ROAD

Picture special: Women's time trial

Cancellara wins men's time trial gold

Men's time trial reaction: Steve Cummings on his ride

Women's time trial reaction: I feel fantastic, says Pooley

Pooley wins silver in women's time trial

Cooke's secret was the skinsuit

What the papers say... about Nicole Cooke

Analysis: women's road race

Gold for Nicole Cooke in Women?s road race

Reaction: It?s a dream to win Gold, says Cooke

Women's Olympic road race picture special

Sanchez gives Spain gold in thrilling men?s road race

Who is Samuel Sanchez?

Tactical analysis: Reading the men?s Olympic road race

British riders suffer in hot and humid Olympic road race

Rebellin misses out on golden birthday

Brailsford confident ahead of women?s road race

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OLYMPIC GAMES 2008: GUIDE

Olympic Games 2008 homepage>>

Olympics: latest news>>

Olympics cycling results>>

Cycling event schedule>>

Great Britain rider profiles>>

Cycling event guide>>

Photo gallery>>

Every British cycling medal ever won at the Olympic Games

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Track results at the Worlds and Olympics 2004-2008

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Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.