JASON Kenny could not make the French connection at the UCI Track World Championships in Holland last night.

Gregory Bauge became sprint champion at Kenny’s expense for a third successive year.

But the Farnworth star again defeated four-time Olympic champion, Sir Chris Hoy on his way to silver.

And Kenny, aged 23, has one final chance to complete a full set of Apeldoorn medals when he goes for keirin gold tonight.

“I’m really pleased even though it finished in defeat,” said Kenny, almost physically sick due to his exploits.

“Especially, when you get battered by Bauge.

“But the whole competition has been really hard. I’ve had some really tough rides, not just with Bauge and Chris but with Shane Perkins of Australia.”

On his latest triumph over Hoy, Kenny added: “That’s just the sport at the end of the day.

“Everyone races hard and knocks the stuffing out of each other.

“But once we cross the finishing line we’re all friends, even with the French lads.”

Brilliant Bauge did not need a third and deciding race to clinch his sprint hat-trick.

However, Kenny was delighted by his showing, especially another success over Hoy.

The 35-year-old Scot showed his determination not to finish empty-handed by beating Bauge’s compatriot, Mickael Bourgain, for bronze.

Kenny has now beaten Hoy three times in six months, winning six successive races.

He’s certainly come on substantially since finishing runner-up to Hoy at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Kenny opened his semi-final with the perfect first ride, stalking his opponent before blasting past Hoy with 120 metres to go.

Hoy had no answer to the power and gave up the chase well before the finishing line.

With only 10 minutes before the second ride, both men had little time to reconsider tactics.

Bauge duly beat Bourgain to gain his place in the final before the Brits returned for their decisive race.

And again the pupil beat the master, though the winning margin this time was much closer.

Hoy, clearly worried by Kenny’s finishing speed, tried to draw the sting from his younger rival’s legs by attacking well before the start of the last lap.

However, he reckoned without Kenny’s pace and though they crossed the line almost side by side, it was Kenny who got the verdict to reach the final.

It followed victories over Hoy at last year’s National Championships and this season’s World Cup.

With only one competitor per event at the London Olympics, Kenny could deny Hoy an opportunity to defend his sprint crown.

“Spectators want to see the fastest guys in the world racing so it’s a shame from that respect,” added Kenny.

“But we don’t make the rules; we just race within them. And there’s 16 months to go so I’m taking nothing for granted.”