Kenny stuns Bauge in sprint to win second Olympic gold

Jason Kenny became Britain's first double gold medallist of the London 2012 Olympic Games by beating the brilliant Gregory Bauge in the sprint final on Monday.

Frenchman Bauge has been unbeatable in World Championships since 2009 but Kenny disposed of him in two straight races to take the British cycling team's fifth gold in the velodrome, and leaving Bauge perplexed.

The Frenchman, who has won every sprint world title since 2009 (although he was stripped of the 2011 title for irregularities in his whereabouts information) looked like he was struggling to understand Kenny's performance and so started asking the questions in the post-race press conference.

"What do you do differently before the Olympics? How do you prepare?" he asked. Then he went on to ask if Kenny would simply relax for the next four years before coming back and winning in Rio.

The questions seemed borne out of the frustration of being beaten in two straight races by Kenny, who had never beaten the Frenchman in a World Championship.

Bauge has had to settle for two silvers as Kenny has won two golds.

The British team has now won a medal in six of the seven events they have competed in, only missing out in the women's team sprint, and only then because they were relegated after an irregular change.

Kenny was selected for the sprint ahead of Sir Chris Hoy in June as the British selectors left it until as late as possible to make the call. "It's not something I thought about until I went up for the last ride. It then dawned on me if Chris was there there's no way he'd lose. It was a case of then getting up and doing it."

The 24-year-old beat Bauge in the first race by getting past him in the final metres of the home straight. In the second race Kenny was in lower position on the start line and had to lead from the front. He eyeballed Bauge from the start and never took his eyes off him.

There were almost no tactics from either of them as the speed slowly ramped up. It was perfect for Kenny who posted a faster qualifying time than Bauge meaning his top speed was marginally higher.

Bauge needed to jump the 24 year old Brit, but never had the chance, and Kenny held him off. "I really enjoy what I do." Kenny said. "I don't do it or fame or money, which is just as well as I don't have any. I enjoy the lifestyle, and how it is hope to continue with that."

Like the men, the women's sprint competition looks to be going to form. If it does it will set up a Pendleton, Meares final. They have to get past Kristina Vogel and Shuang Guo respectively, but both have looked a level above in their rounds today.

London 2012: Live text coverage of cycling events

August 5: Track cycling day four

August 4: Track cycling day three

August 3: Track cycling day two

August 2: Track cycling day one

August 1: Men's and women's time trials

July 28: Men's road race

July 29: Women's road race

London 2012: Latest news

Comment: Hindes's purposeful crash - fair or foul?

New format for team pursuit explained

Pendleton and Varnish out of team sprint

'Hot pants' key to Pendleton and Hoy sprint

Britain's sprinters looking to continue GB medal haul

Wiggins: Tour was perfect Olympic TT preparation

Olympic time trial round-up

Pendleton warms up for London 2012

Cancellara in, Evans out of time trial

CW eyewitness: Remember the name

Cavendish finds solace in commitment of his team mates

London 2012: Team info

Men's road race start list

Women's road race start list

Men's time trial start list

Women's time trial start list

Team GB rider profiles

Great Britain track team confirmed

Bronzini leads Italian Olympic cycling team

British Olympic men's road race team announced

Armitstead and Cooke lead GB women's road cycling team

London 2012: Event guides

Mountain bike event guide on

www.mbr.co.uk

Olympic Games men's time trial: Who will win?

Olympic Games women's time trial: Who will win?

Olympic time trial routes announced

Olympic Games women's road race: Who will win?

Olympic Games men's road race: Who will win?

Download detailed Olympic road race route map

London 2012 cycling schedule

London 2012: Reports

Bronze for Clancy while Pendleton marches on

Pendleton sets new Olympic record to qualify ahead of Meares

Trott, King and Rowsell keep gold medals coming

Kenny lights up a stuttering men's sprint competition

Track day two: Pendleton and team pursuiters deliver more gold

Track cycling day one: Hoy leads team sprinters to gold

Wiggins wins gold in men's time trial, bronze for Froome

Armstrong defends Olympic title in women's time trial

Cycling events medal table

Women's road race: Armitstead wins silver as Vos strikes gold

Men's road race: Vinokourov wins as Cavendish misses out

London 2012: Photos

Track day four evening session by Andy Jones

Track day four evening session by Graham Watson

Track day four morning session by Andy Jones

Track day four morning session by Phil O'Connor

Track day three evening session by Andy Jones

Track day three evening session by Phil O'Connor

Track day three morning session by Andy Jones

Track day two by Phil O'Connor

Track day two by Graham Watson

Track day one by Andy Jones

Track day one by Phil O'Connor

Track day one by Graham Watson

Men's time trial by Graham Watson

Women's time trial by Graham Watson

Pendleton track training

Women's road race by Andy Jones

Women's road race by Graham Watson

Men's road race by Andy Jones

Men's road race by Phil O'Connor

Men's road race by Graham Watson

Team GB road race training on Box Hill (July 26)

London 2012: Podcasts

Cycling Weekly podcasts on Soundcloud

London 2012: TV schedule

London 2012 BBC TV cycling coverage schedule

London 2012 Eurosport cycling coverage schedule

Related links

CW's dummies' guide to track racing

World's best BMXers in London 2012 test event

Olympic road race test event: Report card

Cavendish wins London-Surrey Cycle Classic

London-Surrey Cycle Classic photo gallery

Olympic road race route officially revealed

London 2012 tickets on sale from March