MALVERN mountain bike ace Liam Killeen is one of England's major medal hopes at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

Killeen won a bronze medal as a 20-year-old at Manchester 2002, his first senior international event.

He finished fifth at last year's Olympics and was the highest-placed Commonwealth rider in the 2005 World Cup Series, finishing ninth overall.

Killeen also finished 16th at the 2005 World Championships held in Livignio, Italy last month. His England team-mate Oli Beckingsale was ninth in Livignio and also has realistic medal hopes after an outstanding 2005.

The cross country mountain bike race will be at 3am (GMT) on Thursday (March 23) when 23-year-old Killeen will be hoping for the race of his life.