CAPITAL cycling star Chris Hoy will continue his build up to the Olympics against a top class field at the Cottbus Grand Prix in Germany tonight, writes COLIN RENTON.
Among the riders lining up against him will be the world record holder Theo Bos of the Netherlands, Olympic champion Ryan Bayley of Australia, and the top German hopes for Beijing, Stefan Nimke and Maximilian Levy.
Hoy's German coach Jan Van Eid
en said: "Chris likes going to Cottbus and besides we need a race. This should give us an idea of where we are in terms of preparation for Beijing."
Hoy is no stranger to the venue having used it as a training venue in the lead up to major championship races in recent years. He trained there with the Great Britain squad earlier this week. In addition, he posted a win in the team sprint last year and finished second in the individual event.
Meanwhile, Edinburgh riders Kate Cullen and Pippa Handley will both be in the colours of their Dutch teams when they compete in tomorrow's British Women's Road Race Championships at Duncombe Park in North Yorkshire.
Also in the 50-strong field that will be out to thwart eight times champion Nicole Cooke in the 106 kilometre event is Edinburgh RC's Claire Thomas.
Sunday's men's event pits Evan Oliphant, James McCallum and Callum Wilkinson against the country's top road men, among them the holder David Millar.
However, the West Lothian Pedal Power squad will not contest the 203km race. The team had planned to compete in Italy this weekend but, frustratingly for the riders, the trip fell through too late for them to enter for Duncombe Park.
The full article contains 286 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
