Laura Trott wins Omnium gold medal at Track World Championships
Laura Trott wins her second gold medal of the UCI Track World Championships, taking victory in the Omnium in London
Laura Trott added Omnium gold to her scratch race win on the final day of the UCI Track World Championships with a storming performance in the last event to seal her victory.
The double Olympic champion wasn't satisfied with simply defending her considerable lead in the final points race, taking 17 points in the sprints to hammer home her advantage and win by 18 points over Laurie Berthon of France.
Trott has finished second in omnium at the last three World Championships since winning the title in the Olympics, but now holds both titles again having worked hard on her points race riding.
Trott had previously struggled in points races, and when the UCI changed the omnium's format ahead of the 2014 world champs to favour that event it looked at first like it could work against her.
Her hard work has clearly paid off as she was never in trouble winning sprints one and five, and picking up points when she was in a position to do so. behind her Berthon of France, who started in second place, spent the whole of the race on the wheel of third placed Sarah Hammer.
Hammer did grab some points and put herself in to the silver medal position toward the end of the race, but Berthon was gambling it all on the final sprint. It paid off as she jumped past Hammer in the back straight to win the final sprint and put herself back in to the silver medal position.
What this tactic did was protect Trott. Berthon was clearly not interested in challenging Trott for gold, and as Hammer was so heavily marked by the French woman she was unable to challenge for gold herself.
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Earlier on Sunday, Trott put in solid performances in the 500m time trial, losing out to nearest rival Sarah Hammer in the event, and the flying lap to give her a sizeable lead going into the points race.
Trott now holds seven world titles, an incredible tally for any 23-year-old, and is Britain's third most successful world championship track rider behind Sir Chris Hoy (11) and Victoria Pendleton (nine).
Trott's gold is Great Britain's fourth in the World Championships that currently puts them at the top of the medal table. Only two however have come in Olympic disciplines - the other being Jason Kenny's sprint victory on Saturday night. Trott also won bronze in the team pursuit on Friday.
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Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
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