Gold rush man Hoy gears up for next test

TRIPLE Olympic champion Chris Hoy will be back in the saddle tomorrow night at the Salford Nocturne event.

However, there will be none of the pressure that was a feature of his time in Beijing as the 32-year-old Capital man lines up in a roller race. Hoy will be clocked over 500 metres and other riders will attempt to beat his time.

There will be more serious racing on the agenda when another Capital-based man, Evan Oliphant, lines up in the Pannone Elite Criterium later in the evening chasing the top prize of £1000 against a strong field that includes Olympic team pursuit gold medallists Geraint Thomas and Ed Clancy.

Oliphant's involvement means that he will miss the rescheduled Scottish 15-kilometre track championship at Caird Park in Dundee.

Capital cyclist Ross Crook will bid to retain the title at the second time of asking, having had his bid for a successful defence rained off in July.

Crook's stiffest test is likely to come from previous winner James McCallum.