Pendleton powers to silver
16th March 2006Victoria Pendleton powered to Team England’s first track cycling silver of the 2006 Commonwealth Games when she blasted round two laps of the velodrome at Melbourne’s Multi Purpose Venue this evening to record 34.662.
She was beaten only by world record holder Anna Meares of Australia, who added the Commonwealth Games crown to her Olympic title.
“I’m very happy with that,” said Pendleton. “It’s the best performance in the 500m of my life so far.”
Riding fourth of the five finalists, the 25-year-old from Hitchin knew exactly what she had to do to snatch a medal. If she could beat Anna’s sister Kerrie’s time of 35.210 she would put herself in gold medal position.
With the awesome Aussie to come, however, she knew however fast she peddled it might not be enough for gold.
Pendleton blasted off at the start recording 19.576 for the first 250m lap and sweeping round the second. As soon as she crossed the line the words ‘Commonwealth Record’ flashed up on the giant screen.
She had taken the lead by more than half a second and beaten Kerrie Meares’ Games record, set in Manchester four years ago, by more than three tenths.
Pendeleton must have thought that would be enough for the top prize. But Anna Meares is not Olympic champion for nothing. To the roars of the Aussie fans, and watched by her parents for the first time ever in her career, she clocked 34.326 to take the gold medal and eclipse Pendleton’s mark.
“It seemed to take forever waiting for Anna’s ride,” said Pendleton. “I know it’s only 34 seconds but it seemed ages. I just wish the time had gone a bit slower.
“But it was an excellent ride by Anna so you can’t take that away from her.”
Despite being so close to gold, Pendleton was happy to have split the two Meares sisters. After finishing fifth in this event in Manchester and sixth at the Olympic Games in Athens, she had her first major Games medal.
“Technically I’m a bit disappointed,” said Pendleton. “But I’m going well. It’s a very fast track and very steep.
Perhaps the best news of all for the Manchester-based cyclist is that her best event is yet to some. Pendleton is world sprint champion and that final takes place on Saturday evening (18 March).
“The sprint is my main event and I will be trying very hard to get the gold,” she said.