Hoy is currently undefeated in the Keirin (Image credit: John Veage)
World Sprint Champion Theo Bos will face up to the World Keirin Champion Chris Hoy in a head-to-head battle at Manchester's next Revolution event on January 12. The pair will be put to the test in a gruelling sprint omnium contest featuring a 200m TT, Match Sprint, Team Sprint and Keirin finale.
Hoy has proved himself the man to defeat in the Keirin with an unbeaten record since he took the title at the World Championships in 2007. The Olympic Kilo Champion was forced to shift his focus onto the Keirin discipline following the removal of the Kilo from the Olympic programme and the transition has been hugely successful. Hoy scored wins in both the Sydney and Beijing World Cup rounds this season
The Scottish star now has his sights set on Keirin glory at the Beijing Olympics but recognises that the competition will be intense especially from the likes of Bos. "The Keirin is quite an unpredictable event and there are a lot of guys out there capable of winning," Hoy acknowledged. "Bos is one of the best and will definitely be one of the main contenders at the Worlds and Olympics."
Indeed, Bos sealed his reputation as one of the world's best with his explosive victory to take the Keirin title at the 2006 World Championships. He also took the sprint world title in the same year, a feat he repeated at the last World Championships in Mallorca. At 24, the Dutch sprinter's consistency is impressive and makes him a definite medal contender and Hoy's strongest rival.
Tough opposition will also come from Bos's Dutch team mates Tuen Mulder and Tim Veldt as well as British sprint stars Craig MacLean, Jamie Staff and Ross Edgar, setting the scene for an awesome night of sprinting.
"Revolution 19 is set to be our big sprint event," commented promoter James Pope. "We have all the Keirin world champions from the last four years with Hoy, Bos, Mulder and Staff in the line up."
"The quality is superb," he continued. "The Dutch sprinters won the Team Sprint at the Beijing World Cup and will be coming off the back of their National Track Championships, so they will be in great form. We're also looking forward to having Chris Hoy back at the event, particularly now that he will race against Bos."
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Revolution will also provide a crucial opportunity to race for the riders who aren't going to the LA World Cup a week later.
"A lot of these riders aren't going to the LA World Cup including Bos and Hoy," said Pope. "With the Worlds in Manchester at the end of March tensions are rising ,so Revolution will provide a crucial opportunity to race in front of the Manchester crowds."
Tickets are on sale at www.cyclingrevolution.com or by calling 0845 686 0105 or 0161 223 2244.
