World Track Championships
Venue: Apeldoorn, Netherlands Dates: 23-27 March
Coverage: Watch and listen live across the BBC - What to watch and where to watch it Hoy wins keirin silver at Track World Championships Sir Chris Hoy battled to win silver in the men's keirin at the Track World Championships in the Netherlands. He was pipped to the line by Australian Shane Perkins, with Briton Matt Crampton just missing out on bronze. Earlier, Victoria Pendleton's hopes of a fifth straight title were dashed as she took bronze in the sprint, which was won by Australian Anna Meares. GB's Dani King won bronze in the non-Olympic scratch event, adding to her team pursuit world title. King said: "It's a big dream for me, I don't think this smile will be off my face for a long time. "I just hung on and hung on and knew I could sprint. There's Brits in the crowd, including my parents and that just kept me going." In the second round of the keirin, Olympic champion Hoy was almost eliminated - he managed to squeeze into third place on the final straight - and team-mate Jason Kenny was eliminated. That heat was won by Crampton but he failed to match that display in the final as he came in fourth behind Dutchman Teun Mulder. The British pair led the final pack until Perkins surged through the middle in the back straight. Hoy hung on but left it too late to attempt to go around the outside of the Australian. Hoy said the competition has left him mentally exhausted.  | Anna Meares is in the form of her life and I'm not but don't write me off yet |
"It's not the physical side, it's the emotional and mental side, getting yourself up after you've lost a race and fighting back. It's energy sapping, it really does take it out of you," said Hoy. "I'm emotionally and physically exhausted right now. I'm looking forward to a couple of weeks off the bike and then I'll get back in the gym and start the season again for next year." Pendleton's 2-0 win over Belarusian Olga Panarina will be little consolation after a 2-1 semi-final defeat by rival and eventual gold medallist Meares. Olympic silver medallist Meares went shoulder to shoulder with Simona Krupeckaite of Lithuania in the final but comfortably won 2-0 to take her first sprint world title. In the third-place ride-off, Panarina was no match for Pendleton, who was physically and tactically superior as she cruised to bronze. However, the 30-year-old will be left disappointed after fighting back in the semi-final where she produced an explosive finish in the second heat, coming around the outside of Meares on the final straight and forcing the Australian into a decider. In the final heat Meares adopted her typical cat-and-mouse crawl before the sprint, edging up to the fence and unnerving Pendleton, who was unable to make up enough ground before the 27-year-old crossed the finish line. "I was surprised I got the opportunity to put Vicky there," Meares stated. "She doesn't often allow that to happen. I took the chance, I took the risk and it paid off. "To be able to beat her is a big honour for me. We have a big rivalry, but I admire her for the rider that she is." Pendleton was seeking her sixth world title in seven years. "I'm not in the best form but I'm working on a two-year plan," the Olympic sprint champion said. "You have got to have confidence and patience in your form and stick to your plan. I've been in every semi-final since 2003, so I don't think that's a bad run. "Anna Meares is in the form of her life and I'm not but don't write me off yet." Meanwhile, Sam Harrison finished 12th in the six-event omnium, his best result a third place in the 1km time-trial which completed the event. GB's Laura Trott, who won team pursuit gold alongside King and Wendy Houvenaghel on Thursday, was 18th halfway through the women's omnium, with the event set to finish on Sunday. Pendleton eases to sprint bronze Britain's arch rivals Australia won three gold medals and top the medal table after day four with six golds, a silver and a bronze.
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