MANCHESTER, England (AFP) - Britain's reigning world champion Victoria Pendleton coasted into the quarter-finals of the women's sprint event here at the world track cycling championships on Friday.

Pendleton, who had dominated qualifying in a new British record time of 10.904sec, will now meet Dutchwoman Yvonne Hijgenaar for a place in the semis after coasting past Frenchwoman Clara Sanchez in their match heat.

The second round was however marred by a crash during the sixth heat between Dutch ace Willy Kanis and former world champion Natallia Tsylinskaya.

The pair were leaning heavily into each other as they raced at speed round a bend and Tsylinskaya, on the inside, came crashing down awkwardly on her shoulders as her head buckled underneath her body.

The race was immediately stopped and, in obvious pain, the Belarussian was given medical attention before being taken away on a stretcher with a head brace fitted.

The heat victory immediately went to Kanis, the reigning World Cup sprint champion, who will now meet Simona Krupeckaite of Lithuania for a place in the semis.

Shuang Guo of China beat compatriot Lulu Zheng to go directly into the last eight where she will meet Sanchez after the Frenchwoman beat Russian veteran Oksana Grishina in repechages.

Hijgenaar was beaten by Krupeckaite in the second round but dominated a three-man repechage round - prompted by Tsylinskaya leaving the competition - ahead of Christin Muche of Germany and Zheng.

Cuban Lisandra Guerra, the 500 metre time trial world champion, will meet American Jennie Reed after both qualified directly with second round wins over Muche and Grishina respectively.

The quarter-finals of the sprint competition will feature two legs, and a possible decider in the event of ties.

Pendleton has already won gold from the team sprint event with teammate Shanaze Reade.

The semi-finals and final of the women's sprint will be held later Saturday.