British riders dominate World Cup

Great Britain's track cyclists claimed five gold medals in a sparkling display on day one of the World Cup Classics series at the Manchester Velodrome.

A dominant Victoria Pendleton won the women's sprint, while Wendy Houvenaghel stormed home in the individual pursuit.

Lizzie Armitstead, Lucy Martin and Katie Colclough made a clean sweep of the medals in the women's points race.

Ed Clancy powered to victory in the men's individual pursuit and teenager David Daniell won the 1km time trial.

Jason Kenny was inches away from claiming Britain's sixth gold in the keirin but had to settle for silver behind France's Francois Pervis.

And double Olympic gold medallist Bradley Wiggins could only finish seventh in the men's 15km scratch race, with compatriot Luke Rowe fourth.

Wiggins was in contention for silver behind eventual winner Wim Stroetinga of the Netherlands but seemed to be saving his strength for Sunday's madison, where he will partner Geraint Thomas.

It was still an impressive showing by Britain's riders, many of whom were returning to the track for the first time since their heroics in Beijing.

The Track Cycling World Cup Classics act as qualifying rounds for the annual World Championships, which in 2009 take place in Pruskow, Poland.

Alongside a GB squad there were British riders competing in the colours of trade teams 100% ME, Sky+ HD and Plowman Craven

Houvenaghel took Britain's first gold medal of the night in the women's 3,000m individual pursuit.

The 33-year-old, who is from Northern Ireland but based in Cornwall, made short work of Canada's Tara Whitton in the final, almost catching her rival as she triumphed in 3 min 30.59 secs.

Sutton teenager Joanna Rowsell, 19, riding for 100% ME, beat Germany's Charlotte Becker in the bronze medal race in a time of 3 min 41.88 secs.

And Olympic champion Pendleton, who is also chasing victory in the women's 1km time trial and the keirin this weekend, looked in imperious form in her sprint races.

The Bedfordshire star, racing for Sky+ HD, left compatriot Anna Blythe in her wake in her semi-final and was also far too strong for China's Lulu Zheng in the final.

Blythe, 20, had to settle for fourth after being beaten by Lyubov Shulika of Ukraine in the bronze medal race.


Clancy also goes for gold in the men's team pursuit race on Saturday
But more home success followed in the women's points race where 100% ME rider Armitstead led Martin and Colclough home.

Armitstead, 19, dominated from start to finish and triumphed with 39 points, well ahead of Martin, who was in GB colours, and 100% ME team-mate Colclough, who both managed 25 points.

All three are still juniors, although Armitstead rode as a senior in the recent road World Championships.

Kenny was also heavily tipped to triumph in the keirin but left himself too much to do on the final bend.

The Bolton rider was catching Pervis at the line but replays showed he finished just behind the Frenchman, who won in a time of 10.68 secs.

Clancy's victory in the 4,000m individual pursuit, however, was never in doubt as he destroyed Ukraine's Vitaliy Shchedov in the final.

And 18-year-old Daniell ensured the night ended on a high by posting a personal best of 1 min 01.9 secs to snatch victory in the 1km time trial.

The event continues on Saturday when events include the men's team pursuit and the women's team sprint.