Barnsley’s Clancy is forced out of medal ride with virus

In the three-man, three-lap team sprint, Britain’s Jason Kenny, Sir Chris Hoy and Matt Crampton clocked 44.235 seconds to finish third ahead of Australia’s Daniel Ellis, Jason Niblett and Scott Sunderland, who posted a time of 45.241secs.

Britain’s team pursuit squad had also claimed bronze.

Steven Burke, Andy Tennant, Peter Kennaugh and Sam Harrison, who took over from the ailing Yorkshireman Ed Clancy for the medal ride, finished ahead of New Zealand in the third/fourth-placed ride off as Australia claimed gold ahead of Russia.

In the women’s 500m time-trial, Becky James finished in 35.035 to place seventh as Olga Panarina of Belarus won gold in 33.896.

Olympic champion Clancy, the world omnium champion from Barnsley, has been struggling with a virus of late and failed to finish the heat of the four-man, four-kilometre event.

He was replaced by Harrison for the ride-off as the 18-year-old Welshman claimed a medal on his senior World Championships debut.

Harrison could yet deputise for Clancy in the omnium tomorrow and Saturday, with a decision on the Yorkshireman’s fitness set to be taken today.

France’s Gregory Bauge, Michael D’Almeida and Kevin Sireau reclaimed the world team sprint title from Germany, finishing in 43.867.

Germany’s Rene Enders, Maximilian Levy and Stefan Nimke took silver in 44.483.

Hoy said of Great Britain’s display: “It’s the best performance we’ve had as a team since Beijing (Olympics 2008).

“It’s an encouraging result with progression. Looking at the difference between us and the French and the Germans, the gap is coming down now.

“Four weeks ago at the World Cup we were over half-a-second behind them.

“We missed out on the final by two hundredths of a second which is not a great deal.

“It was a different combination from the team we had in Beijing, so it is a work in progress.

“Pre-Beijing we didn’t win the world title; we haven’t won a world title since 2005.

“I’d happily trade in any gold medals between now and London for the important one at the Olympics.”

Hoy was celebrating his 35th birthday on the opening day of the world championships while team-mate Kenny reached 23 yesterday.