Britain's Jason Kenny claimed his first individual gold medal Monday when he stunned Frenchman Gregory Bauge 2-0 to win track cycling's Olympic sprint title.
Kenny, a 24-year-old from Bolton, was given the nod over defending champion Chris Hoy to defend Britain's chances of sprint gold at his home Games after the rules were changed to limit each nation to one rider per event.
Four years after finishing second to Hoy in Beijing, Kenny seized his opportunity with both hands.
After his runner-up place to Bauge at the Melbourne world championships in April, Kenny signalled his intent from day one by qualifying fastest in the 200m flying lap.
It was no guarantee of victory, but it showed he had the finishing speed required against the fastest men on the track.
He then sailed through the rounds to set up a duel with Bauge, the three-time world champion who had been expected to hand France their first title in the event since Daniel Morelon in 1972.
Billed as the 'dream' Olympic final by both riders, the only surprise was that Bauge did not level the match to take it to a third leg decider.
"I'm really pleased about that," said Kenny. "We're really close (in performance). At the worlds and the year before, he's been the slightly faster rider.
"Three days ago, I qualified a little bit quicker, and again the race has come down to that.
"I like racing against Baauge, he's a real pro rider and it always makes for some pretty exciting racing."
Australia's Shane Perkins beat Trinidad's Njisane Phillip to win the bronze.
Although Hoy had the chance to defend all three of his sprint, team sprint and keirin titles in London, Kenny was given the green light to represent Britain in the sprint barely a month ago.
He admitted his duel with Hoy for the sole sprint spot had spurred him on.
"It was quite the battle to get here with Chris. I didn't want to mess that one up. I was really pleased. I just did it for the team. It's pretty amazing."
Kenny's gold is the fifth for Britain after seven finals at the velodrome.
The hosts also have gold medal hopes in the three finals which are held on the last day of competition Tuesday -- the men's keirin and the women's omnium and sprint.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/kenny-beats-bauge-coveted-sprint-gold-171621363--oly.html
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