Experience proves crucial as Skinner loses out in sprint

CAPITAL teenager Callum Skinner found his route to glory at the National Track Cycling Championships in Manchester blocked by one of the men he hopes to emulate.

The 16-year-old City of Edinburgh rider was 11th fastest qualifier in a high-class field for the individual sprint but was drawn against fellow Scot Craig MacLean, a World Championship medallist nine times.

MacLean, who also took gold in the 2006 Commonwealth Games team sprint with Chris Hoy and Ross Edgar, showed his class to oust the young pretender on his way to taking silver after losing out to fellow Great Britain squad member Matt Crampton in the final.

There was disappointment for Skinner's team-mates Matt Haynes and Bruce Croall. After qualifying in sixth and seventh places respectively, they were drawn against each other, with Haynes taking the honours before exiting at the hands of former world junior champion David Daniell in the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, another City of Edinburgh teenager, Kevin Stewart just missed out on qualifying but atoned for that disappointment when he won the B event.

All six Capital men will be back in action tonight's team sprint while the club will also be represented in the women's event.