World Track Championships 2008

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Race Writeup

Semi-Finals

Race 1

Victoria Pendelton (GBR) was up against the American Jennie Reed in the first of the two semi-final groupings. The two riders have both won medals at this discipline over the last 4 years but it is Pendleton who has achieved the highest accolade. Pendleton led out but Reed managed to jump under and onto the sprinters line at the bell. Pendleton was forced round the long way but managed it in style to win in a time of 11.972 seconds, covering the last 200m at a speed of 60.140km/hr.

In the other battle Shuang Guo (CHN) was up against the inform Lithuanian, Simona Krupeckaite. Krupeckaite never looked troubled. She has come into the World championships in great form and already has a silver medal in the 500m time trial. She completed the last 200m in a time of 12.046 seconds at a speed of 59.770 km/hr.

Race 2

Jennie Reed led from the front in the second heat in an attempt to catch Pendleton napping. She had a 5m gap at the bell but could not hold off the speed of Pendleton. Pendleton came flying past with 10m to go to win in a time of 11.697 seconds for the last 200m.

Krupeckaite was forced to the front by a Guo track stand. Krupeckaite likes to lead from the front so this was not issue for her. She hit the bell flying and never looked troubled by Guo.

Final

Victoria Pendleton never looked troubled by the Lithuanian in either of the two heats to win her consecutive gold medal in the sprint competition. Even when Krupeckaite tried to attack from the front Pendleton came from behind to dominate the race.

In the race for Bronze, Jennie Reed secured her first World Championship medal in a tough series of races against Shuang Guo of China. Reed took the first one, Guo the second and in the decider Reed attacked from the front and just held on for the win by a tire length.

Victoria Pendleton (GBR) came into these championships in great form but there was some doubts a few months ago that Pendleton would be ready. She was suffering with a lower back injury and has spent many hours with the physio’s to get her body ready. Pendleton has also spent many hours with the psychologist too to prepare her mentally. ”My coach Jan van Eijden worked really hard with me to get me physically ready for this event. I am in the form of my life.

I have a psychological advantage now over everyone else, that feels good. I felt so relaxed compared to how I have felt in previous years. I knew I could do it and therefore just had to believe I could do it again” said Pendleton. “The races were not straight forward I had to work extremely hard but I felt really confident today and that makes a big difference. I knew my legs were good. I had performed well in the team sprint and the qualifying yesterday was the best of my life so I really wanted to go out there and grab it today” added Pendleton.

Asked whether she enjoyed this year more than last, Pendleton said “Definitely this year more than last. I had a lot of pressure on me back up what I did last year but I knew I had the form to do it. Winning this time confirms for me that last year was not a one off and that I can do it. I have got the legs to be the best in the World. I have an advantage going into Beijing which is what I wanted”

Simona Krupeckaite (LTU) came into the championships with great form but could not believe how fast Vicky [Pendleton] is able to ride. “She is amazingly fast” said Krupeckaite. “That was so hard today.

Jennie Reed (USA) had not managed to get through to a semi final for a few years so making the to 4 and ten winning the Bronze she was over the moon. “I was a little worried after the second round. I did not want to have any regrets so just gave it my all. I did not think I would medal here so I could not be happier” said Reed.

Shuang Guo (CHN) was very disappointed not to have medaled at the Championships. “I am very sad, Vicky has great form and this is her home town with many spectators. I hope to better in Beijing” said Guo.

Max Pendleton, Victoria’s father was seeing his daughter compete in a World Championship for the first time. Having stayed away from Championships and Olympics previously; to enable Victoria to focus, he could not miss the chance to see her on her home track. “It is incredible, I am so proud of her” said he dad reflecting on her second Gold medal. “Her life is pressured enough without me being there to add pressure, she has come along way from the Grass track racing where she started. There have been a few ups and downs, Athens was particularly bad for her and she really suffered under the pressure and expectation that was placed on her but she has bounced back. Victoria want to please people so much, not so much for herself but everyone else. When she lets people down she really feels bad about is but thankfully that does not happen so much these days” added Max.

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