Can cycling’s Olympic golden pair pedal to medals?

In the 2008 Olympics Great Britain won gold in all cycling sprint events for men and women.

Both Sir Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton will be in action on the first day of track cycling at London 2012.

The opening event is the women’s sprint – newly included in a bid to level the “cycling field” between sexes.

Beijing gold medallist Pendleton will team up with Olympic newcomer Jess Varnish as they attempt to see off tough competition from Australia.

The Great Britain men’s team will include four-time Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy alongside Jason Kenny and Olympic first-timer Philip Hindes.

Last training session at the track done & dusted. 4 years of hard work and commitment are in the bank, it’ll soon be time to cash it in.

— Chris Hoy (@chrishoy) July 31, 2012

Pendleton retires after London

London 2012 will be Victoria Pendleton’s last Olympics, and as the only British sprint cyclist to take part in three events, she could equal Sir Chris Hoy’s Beijing medal haul.

Pendleton will take part in the team sprint and the keirin, both of which are making their Olympic debuts for women in London.

Her main rival is Australian Anna Meares, whom Pendleton admits has enjoyed “more solid performances” over the past 12 months.

At the World Championship in Melbourne Pendleton knocked out Meares in the semi-finals of the individual sprint and went onto clinch gold. What more incentive could Meares have to reap revenge in the east end of London?

Hoy’s hopes

Sir Chris Hoy is not competing in the men’s individual sprint this time around. Instead team-mate Jason Kenny will attempt to keep the title in British hands.

Hoy, however, will be favourite in the keirin event on 6 August after winning the 2012 World Championships.

The “flying Scotsman” was visibly emotional carrying the British flag at the opening ceremony, as the best-known member of the Britsh cycling team