Sunday, March 29, 2009

Armitstead battles to third medal

WORLD TRACK CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Venue: Pruszkow, Poland Dates: 25-29 March Coverage: Live on BBC Two and BBC Sport website from 1500 BST


Lizzie Armitstead
Armitstead won her third medal at her first Cycling World Championships

Lizzie Armitstead secured her third medal at her first World Track Cycling Championships as she battled to win bronze in the women's 25km points race.

The 20-year-old had already taken gold with the pursuit team and silver in the scratch race in Poland.

Italy's Giorgia Bronzini took gold in the points race, with silver going to Cuba's Yumari Gonzalez Valdivieso.

Armitstead's bronze was Britain's ninth medal of the competition - two gold, four silver and three bronze.

Victoria Pendleton won bronze in the 500 metres time-trial on day one, team sprint silver on day two alongside Shanaze Reade, and her fourth world sprint title on day four.

But the 28-year-old's emotional outpouring after her sprint victory seemed to have taken a lot out of her as she failed to qualify for the keirin final on Sunday.

The event was eventually won by China's Guo Shuang with France's Clara Sanchez taking the silver, and Willy Kanis of the Netherlands securing bronze.

606: DEBATE

The other British rider still competing on the final day was Jonny Bellis, who finished 13th in the men's omnium.

Bellis was 10th in the points race and 11th in the final event, the one kilometre time-trial but the event was won by Australian Leigh Howard.

Armitstead was the most successful member of the 19-strong British squad alongside Pendleton and was thrilled with her performance.

"I'm the first British female to medal in a bunch race since 1988 and that was the year I was born," Armitstead commented.

"I'm making a name for myself in this event and that's what I wanted to do.

"Hopefully, I can secure my place in the future on the track, in the Olympics and so on.

"I'm happy but I can now admit to myself that I'm tired."

Her third place in the points race was the one that pleased Armitstead most.

"From lap one I felt awful," she said.

"The bronze is the most satisfying. It's strange, just because I've made it onto the podium.

"I'm really happy to get there, it's my favourite event and it's an Olympic event.

"I definitely exceeded my expectations halfway through that race - I didn't think I was going to come away with a medal there, so I'm really pleased."

The Otley-born rider will now revert to the road, spending the summer in Belgium with her Lotto-Belisol team.

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