GOLD FOR PENDLETON IN THE SPRINT
Victoria Pendleton sealed a five-star performance to win her second successive world sprint title, beating Simona Krupeckaite of Lithaunia 2-0 in the final.
It was Great Britain's seventh gold medal too - equalling the record hauls of the French in 1999 and Britain last year.
Pendleton went through the sprint competition without being beaten either in qualifying or any of the rounds.
And it was her second gold of the championships, following the team sprint win with Shanaze Reade. Tomorrow she'll aim for the Keirin title to repeat her triple crown of 12 months ago.
Pendleton made it look easy but admitted she had to work hard.
?It?s wasn?t straight forward. I was still working hard but I felt really confident today and that makes a big difference,? she said.
?I knew my legs were good, I?d performed well in the team sprint and my time trial was the best of my life, so I really wanted to go out and grab it today.?
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?I think I?ll enjoy this title the most. I had a lot of pressure on me to back up what I did last year and I was really hoping I wouldn?t disappoint anyone. This confirms to me that I can do it and it wasn?t a one off. I have got the legs to be the best in the world.?
?I?m really pleased to be going into the Olympic Games with the psychological advantage over all my opponents. I knew it was going to be harder this year as we can see from the times in the 200-metre sprint qualification. Everybody has stepped up. It?s unheard of for a women to do an 11.00 on her until this year, so I?m really, really pleased with the results.?
?Now I?m looking forward to the keirin, I wish I could do it now.?
2008 TRACK WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: DAILY REPORTS
Sunday, day five>>
Saturday, day four>>
Friday, day three>>
Thursday, day two>>
Wednesday, day one>>
RELATED LINKS
Women's Keirin: Reed denies Pendleton the perfect finish
Who are Brit's golden nine?
Hoy wins the Keirin
Eighth gold for Britain in the Madison
Gold for Pendleton in the sprint
Chris Hoy wins sprint gold
Pursuit women take fifth British gold medal
Jo Rowsell's gold: the toast of Sutton Cycling Club
Belarussian wins men's points race
Britain going for more gold on Friday
Comment: How many more gold for GB?
Hat-trick of golds for Britain
Britain break team pursuit world record
GB into women's team pursuit final
Gold for Romero in individual pursuit
Reade and Pendleton cruise into team sprint final
Track World Champs: results
Romero breaks British pursuit record
It's Britain vs Denmark in team pursuit final
Britain aiming for team pursuit world record
Britain take silver in team sprint
Crowd step in as French anthem stalls
Hayles denies cheating after failing blood test
Wiggins: "I'm pleased I got the job done"
Wiggins wins pursuit gold
Brailsford defends Hayles after failed blood test
Hayles fails pre-race blood test at Track Worlds
Cycling Weekly's 2008 Track World Championships preview
PHOTO GALLERIES
CW's online gallery section>>
Day three in pictures
Day two in pictures
Day one in pictures
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Sports journalist Lionel Birnie has written professionally for Sunday Times, Procycling and of course Cycling Weekly. He is also an author, publisher, and co-founder of The Cycling Podcast. His first experience covering the Tour de France came in 1999, and he has presented The Cycling Podcast with Richard Moore and Daniel Friebe since 2013. He founded Peloton Publishing in 2010 and has ghostwritten and published the autobiography of Sean Kelly, as well as a number of other sports icons.
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