Hayles the nearly-man?

Hayles lies dazed and confused after crashing at the Olympics

BBC Sport's Simon Brotherton looks at the recent trials and tribulations of Britain's Rob Hayles, as he aims to eschew the "nearly man" tag with success at the World Track Championships in Manchester this week.

The unluckiest rider on the Olympic track in Sydney, Rob Hayles ended up with a bronze medal, two fourth places and a fair number of bumps and bruises. And to add insult to injury, his luggage went missing on the way home.

He even had a long wait to discover that the bronze team pursuit medal would actually be coming his way.

The 27-year-old was part of the six man squad but, after forming a quarter of the four-man outfit that raced in the semi-finals, Hayles didn't actually ride in the bronze medal race.

While UCI rules dictate that you have to ride in the final to get a medal, Olympic regulations indicate otherwise, and a dialogue ensued for a day or so before he was finally presented with the medal.

Hayles was beaten by less than half a second by Australian Brad McGhee for the bronze in the individual pursuit and finished fourth alongside Bradley Wiggins in the Madison final.

In a heap

His saddle slipped in the pursuit final which pushed the nose down and made it hard to ride comfortably, while the Madison ended with Hayles in a heap on the floor after being brought down by an Austrian just over a lap from the finishing line with Britain in the silver medal position.

Originally from Hampshire, Hayles is now based in Stockport with fiance and British Olympic swimmer Vicki Horner. The pair got engaged during the Sydney Games.

Hayles is also thought to be considering another relationship soon, for he could be joining David Millar as part of the French Cofidis team for next year.

Hayles will not be riding the Madison this week as the championship timetable doesn't work out favourably, so instead he will feature in the team pursuit and individual pursuit.

Queally wants a golden double

Hayles' chances in the individual event have not been harmed by the news that Olympic champion Robert Bartko from Germany and bronze medallist McGhee won't be coming over to the Velodrome in Manchester to compete.

Another intriguing aspect of this year's championships should be provided in the kilometre time trial event, where Britain's gold medallist, Jason Queally, is hoping to underline his rise to prominence.

Rival

Arnaud Tournant, the 22-year-old from Roubaix in north eastern France, is set to be a key figure, for he is seen as Queally's main rival for the gold.

Tournant also forms part of the three-man French Olympic Sprint team that denied Great Britain the gold medal at both last year's World Championships and in Sydney last month.

Tournant is the defending, two-time world champion in the kilometre time trial, but blew up to finish only fifth at the Olympic Games which left him without excuses but in plenty of tears.

He is also the world record holder for the event, with a time of 1.00148 mins set at altitude in Mexico City.