LONDON, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- Chris Hoy won his fifth Olympic gold medal in front of his home fans Thursday, helping Britain win the cycling team sprint.
Germany wound up with gold in the women's version of the race when the Chinese team, the apparent winner, was ruled to have made an illegal pass during their speedy trip around the track.
Hoy was joined by Philip Hindes and Jason Kenny in turning in a world record of 42.600 to defeat the French squad of Gregory Bauge, Michael D'Almeida and Kevin Sireau. The bronze went to Germany.
In addition to his five Olympics golds, Hoy has won 11 world championships over a career that began in the 1990s.
He took a victory lap after the winning performance as the British fans honored him with a standing ovation.
"I thought my first win in Athens was the most memorable for me," Hoy said, "but this by far is my greatest win."
The women's teams have only two riders on the track and the Chinese duo of Gong Jinjie and Guo Shuang turned in a faster time than Germany in the final.
The riders must take turns leading during the race so that the more powerful rider cannot create a slipstream for his or her teammates for the entire competition.
Cycling rules specify when those lead changes must take place and it was ruled that the change for the Chinese came too early, pushing them back to a silver medal position.
The British women's team suffered the same fate after posting the faster time in the opening heat, costing those riders a chance to advance.
Bronze in the women's race went to Australia.
