Two-time Olympic gold medallist Victoria Pendleton has shared a humorous anecdote highlighting the everyday sexism she encounters as a cyclist, with male riders she passes out on the road refusing to believe they could have been overtaken and speeding up to try and accelerate past her.

"The way I appear has changed so much in the last few years, and to be perfectly honest, I rarely get recognised. I think I am quite nondescript...which is no bad thing. It allows me to be a chameleon which I enjoy," she wrote in an Instagram post.

"If I’m out about on my road bike and I overtake a man for example...I will hear a rapid crunching gears as they try to 'make amends for it,' occasionally combined with a mumbling of 'I must have been daydreaming'...like they need an excuse! Usually followed with a pedal-mashing (usually short-lived) stomp back past me."

The 39-year-old says these instances don't necessarily bother, her and that she finds them amusing.

>>> ‘Nothing has changed’: Pros amongst cyclists warning of post-lockdown road safety

"It doesn’t bother me I think it’s funny," she said. "I’ve always been underestimated because of the way I look....one day I want to be intimidating..."

Pendleton took gold in the Sprint event at the 2008 Beijing Games, before doubling her gold medal tally four years later in the Keirin at the London Games.

The 2012 Olympics also saw the Brit set a new Olympic record of 10.724 seconds in the Sprint qualifiers, although she was controversially relegated in the first run in the final against Anna Meares, eventually earning a silver medal, which would be her final competition before retiring from professional cycling.

Since then, Pendleton switched pedal power for literal horse power, becoming a jockey and achieving a fifth-placed finish at the 2016 Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham.

Then, in 2018, she was forced to abandon an Everest ascent with TV presenter Ben Fogle when she experienced hypoxia, caused by a lack of oxygen.

Following this, she was diagnosed with depression and had contemplated suicide before seeking help from British Cycling psychiatrist Steve Peters among others.

Becky James (Great Britain) set a new Olympic Record of 10.721 for the women's track sprint in qualifying at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, beating the record held by her fellow Brit Victoria Pendleton from London 2012.

Not long after, Team GB's second rider, Katy Marchant, was just 0.066s off her teammate's new record. The British riders qualified in first and second.

James went off early in proceedings on Sunday evening due to her low number of UCI points, but this pre-event standing clearly wasn't indicative of form.

Fresh off the back of silver in the Keirin the night before, the British rider has laid down a marker as Britain look to continue their hugely successful Olympic track campaign.

The individual races against the clock will determine the head-to-head contests, with one more race on Sunday evening and the later rounds spread across Monday and Tuesday.

The women's sprint final comes last in the running order on Tuesday August 16.

A busy evening of racing on Sunday sees the first races in the men's omnium featuring Mark Cavendish, and the men's sprint final which pits British teammates Callum Skinner and Jason Kenny against each other for gold.

Of the 27 starters, only the top 18 qualified for the further rounds of the women's track sprint. As a result of qualifying first and second, the two Team GB riders shouldn't meet each other until the later rounds.

More from the Olympics

Becky James and Katy Marchant progress to 1/8 final of track sprint

Jason Kenny beats Callum Skinner to take Olympic sprint title

Elia Viviani wins omnium elimination race as mistake costs Mark Cavendish

Result

Women’s sprint qualifying, 200m flying lap: Qualifiers only

1. Becky James (GBR) 10.721 [Olympic record]

2. Katy Marchant (GBR) 10.787

3. Lee Wai Sze (HKG) 10.800

4. Elis Ligtlee (NED) 10.803

5. Zhong Tianshi (CHN) 10.820

6. Kristina Vogel (GER) 10.865

7. Natasha Hansen (NZL) 10.871

8. Stephanie Morton (AUS) 10.875

9. Anna Meares (AUS) 10.947

10. Simona Krupeckaite (LTU) 10.978

11. Anastasiia Voinova (RUS) 10.985

12. Kate O’Brien (CAN) 11.020

13. Laurine Van Riessen (NED) 11.023

14. Miriam Welte (GER) 11.038

15. Jinjie Gong (CHN) 11.068

16. Virginie Cueff (FRA) 11.099

17. Monique Sullivan (CAN) 11.143

18. Olga Ismayilova (AZE) 11.152

Victoria Pendleton said she’d “love to be involved” at British Cycling if she was asked in the future, however doesn’t think she’d be given respect if she was at the organisation as it is currently.

>>> How British Cycling’s nightmare week unfolded

The two time Olympic gold medallist retired from racing in 2012 and has since switched to competing in horse racing, and will be working as a pundit for the BBC in Rio this August.

Pendleton has spoken out about the culture she experienced while an athlete on Team GB, in light of allegations of sexism at British Cycling and following Shane Sutton’s resignation as technical director last month. An independent review is currently being conducted into a culture of fear and bullying at the organisation.

“I would love to be involved [at British Cycling], of course I would love to be involved,” Pendleton told Cycling Weekly at the BBC’s launch for the Rio Games in London on Thursday.

“I’d want to be involved with a team and a system that I’d feel comfortable with. I wouldn’t be treated as an equal [now],” she continued. “I think I’d struggle to earn the respect.”

The 35-year-old recalled a meeting she had with former British Cycling performance director Dave Brailsford when she was an athlete, and he asked her about her future plans in the sport.

Watch: Lizzie Armitstead - Road to Rio

“He asked me ‘where do you see yourself in I think five, 10 years time?’ And I said ‘in your chair Dave’ and smiled,” she explained. “He thought it was quite funny and I was like ‘well what do you want me to say? I’ve got to aim high’ — so I aimed at the top.

“Actually, Shane Sutton came at me after that saying ‘well I’ve stolen your chair now Vic’, not in a funny way, when I left the programme. I thought yeah, maybe not yet, maybe in the future.”

The former track cyclist said she did not believe the scrutiny BC is currently under will be having an impact on the riders’ preparations for Rio.

“As an athlete you’re so focussed on what you do, you’re so determined and driven with your own personal goals I don’t think it would really make a difference,” she said.

The BBC is bringing extensive coverage of the 2016 Summer Olympics live from Rio. Beginning August 5th across TV, radio and on the BBC Sport website.

Victoria Pendleton has rejected Shane Sutton's claims that he "held her" in his arms when she "capitulated" in the track centre, which the former British Cycling technical director made after his suspension from the governing body.

Pendleton supported Jess Varnish's claims of sexism within British Cycling, in which Varnish said Sutton told her to "go and have a baby". Pendleton revealed that she thought her opinions when in the programme were not as well respected as those of the men.

In response, Sutton told the Times that he was disappointed that the Olympic gold medallist had spoken out, saying he comforted her many times and even stayed up until 3am painting her house in the run-up to the Beijing 2008 Games.

Pendleton told The Times: "Apparently he has held me in his arms many times. I can tell you Shane has never thrown his arms around me."

As for him helping decorate her house, she said: "That was Shane on a good day. My relationship with Shane was good before Beijing but notice he was talking about the lead-up to 2008. It would be interesting to ask how he was with me in the lead-up to London. That might be a different story.

"It's all very well being supportive some of the time, but when you trust someone and they turn their back on you it's the most heart-breaking thing they can do. Shane can be a great bloke, but not all the time and it's a toss of the coin which side you get."

Sutton resigned his position as technical director soon after his suspension. He was also accused of discriminating against para-cyclists in the Great Britain set up.

Olympic champions Nicole Cooke and Victoria Pendleton have come out in support of Jess Varnish's claims of sexism within British Cycling, which the 25-year-old made after being dropped from the Olympic programme.

While BC insist that Varnish was not offered a new contract based on her performances in recent years, the sprinter claims technical director Shane Sutton told her to "get on with having a baby"

Cooke, who won both the Olympic and World Championships road race in 2008, says that in her experience women are treated like "second-class citizens" from track cycling all the way up to the Tour de France.

Writing in the Guardian, Cooke said: "Hypocrisy and double standards in respect to gender are ingrained in cycling and many other sports but this is hidden in reports of events."

Adding: "In 2008 when I won Olympic gold in Beijing, the day before, in the men’s road race, every single one of the four men riding for Team GB failed to finish.

"In 2006, Welsh Cycling sent me to defend my Commonwealth Games road race title as a team of one while fielding a full team of six male road riders. None of the six finished."

She also cited the differences in the track events that men and women compete in, with the women's team sprint over 500m, while the men complete 750m. The men's time trial sprint is over 1000m, while the women race over half that distance.

Varnish, who won bronze medals in the time trial at both the World Championships and Commonwealth Games, was critical of the BC management after the women's team failed to qualify for the team sprint at the Rio Olympics.

Watch: Lizzie Armitstead discuss her Rio build-up

After her contract was not renewed last week she alleged in an interview with the Daily Mail that Sutton said “with an ass like mine I couldn’t change position within the team sprint” and that she was "too old" to compete for a medal in Rio.

"I have my own personal experiences of Shane and sympathise with Jess," Cooke said. "She was in the position so many have found themselves: speak out and your dreams will be destroyed and years of hard work wasted. Or put up with it and hope. I spoke out from the age of 19 and I know what happens."

Pendleton also spoke of her experiences in the BC programme, during which she won two Olympic gold medals, and agreed with Varnish's claims that sexism and bullying exist at the highest levels.

“I never really felt I had the same respect as my male team-mates,” she told the Telegraph. “My opinion wasn’t worth as much. I used to sit quietly in meetings and not say anything as I knew my opinions would be disregarded. And that’s after I had become Olympic champion and multiple world champion.

“You have to wonder why there isn’t a single woman in a position of leadership in the organisation,” she added. “If there’s a 50-50 split in terms of athletes, why isn’t there in terms of staff? Although that’s something that needs to be addressed in sport as a whole.”

Responding specifically to Cooke's article, British Cycling said: “Riders in the Great Britain Cycling Team heading to Rio 2016 will receive all the support they need to be as good as they can be. A gold medal is valued by us, no matter who wins it and we are equally proud of all our Olympic and world champions."

In relation to Varnish's claims of sexism they said: "Following a review of every rider, the decision was made not to renew Jess’s place based on performances in training and competition, and on a projection of capability for a medal in Tokyo.

"The decision was upheld by an evaluation committee following an appeal by Jess. At no point in the performance review, the appeal process or in subsequent correspondence did Jess raise concerns about sexism, or any other form of discriminatory behaviour, in the GB team.

"However, we are fully committed to the principles and active promotion of equality of opportunity. As such, we treat any such allegations with the utmost seriousness and we will be contacting Jess to offer to discuss her concerns in full."

Sutton also denies that he "said or did anything other than act with complete professionalism" in his dealings with Varnish.

Former track cyclist and Olympic champion Victoria Pendleton is continuing her progress in horse racing and is set to take the start like of the Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on March 18.

The retired cyclist's second career has been aimed at this goal for some time, and her participation in the event - which takes place on Gold Cup day - has now been confirmed.

Pendleton will ride Pacha Du Polder, whose owner Andy Steward has previously stated that he "fully endorse[s] Victoria and what she’s trying to achieve."

At the time of writing, Odds Checker has Pacha Du Polder at 16-1 for the race. Pendleton switched saddles in partnership with betting company Betfair, with the challenge to ride at Cheltenham after just a year of riding, but her journey towards that goal hasn't been the smoothest.

She has been unseated from her horse, and some - including former National Hunt Champion jockey John Francome - have questioned whether she should carry on.

This weekend saw the conclusion of the UCI Track Cycling World Championships, which weas a mixed bad for Team GB. Away from successes for Laura Trott and the Madison win for Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish, the women's team sprint had a very disappointing event.

Finishing fifth was not enough to gain an Olympic spot, so Pendleton's successors have not been able to follow in her footsteps.

The owner the horse Victoria Pendleton hopes to race on at the Cheltenham Festival in March has spoken out in support of the former cyclist, stating that he believes she is "great advert" for horse racing.

Speaking to the BBC, Andy Stewart, owner of Pacha Du Polder, said: "I fully endorse Victoria and what she's trying to achieve.

"The manner in which she has conducted herself throughout has been exemplary." Stewart continued.

"The challenge allied with her positive approach has been a great advert for racing and her involvement has led to widespread coverage of the sport far beyond the racing pages."

This endorsement follows the jockey twice being unseated in races, and former champion jump jockey John Francome stating that the 35-year-old "wants stopping before she hurts herself.”

The former track cycling star is continuing her follow-up career of horse racing, and hopes to ride in the Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham on March 18.

Reports suggest that the decision on Pendleton's participation in that race will be made after she rides at Wincanton on Wednesday, March 2.

Victoria Pendleton's hopes of riding at next month's Cheltenham Festival were dashed when she was unseated from her horse at Fakenham on Friday, and one horse racing great believes she should leave the sport altogether.

Former National Hunt Champion jockey John Francome, current analyst with Channel 4, says Pendleton is an "accident waiting to happen", with the general consensus appearing to be that the Olympic cycling champion was not ready to ride at one of horse racing's biggest meetings in March.

Pendleton switched saddles in partnership with betting company Betfair, with the challenge to ride at Cheltenham after just a year of riding, but Francome says she could end up seriously hurt.

“She wants saving from herself,” Francome told the Guardian on Saturday - the day after Pendleton's first outing over fences on a professional track. “I’ve never met her, she seems a lovely girl but she can’t ride and she’s an accident waiting to happen.

“She could have fallen off at any fence. It’s not just about Cheltenham, she could come off on a Sunday afternoon at a point to point. She wants stopping before she hurts herself.”

Footage of Pendleton's fall from At The Races

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaG1lo4R5z0

>>> Victoria Pendleton: I’m back on my bike and now I can just enjoy it

Pendleton is scheduled to race again on Pacha Du Polder, from who she was unseated on Friday, at Wincanton on March 2, where the aim will simply be to get around the track without falling.

“Between us all, we are going to have a sit down and talk about it and make sure we all do the right thing,” Paul Nicholls, the trainer of Pacha Du Polder, told the Guardian. “If we’re not happy, we’re not happy, but if she can get a nice, clear round in a fortnight’s time and everything goes right, then we’d be back on track.

“She got unseated, it happens to us all, but she’s got to look at it, learn from it and gain experience. It was just a bit of an unfortunate incident. She’s a novice rider and she’s done very well in a short time, but she’s just got to keep on learning.”

Victoria Pendleton has made her competitive horse racing debut after turning out at Newbury on Thursday night (July 2).

Four months after first announcing her intention to switch her bike for a horse, the double Olympic champion rode Mighty Mambo to a creditable eighth place out of 11 runners in the George Frewer Charity Race.

But Pendleton, whose aim is to compete in the Foxhunters Chase at the Cheltenham Festival next year, admitted afterwards that she still has a lot to learn.

"Being part of this race gave me a huge thrill," she said on the website of backers Betfair.

>>>Victoria Pendleton: I’m back on my bike and now I can just enjoy it

"That said, I'm actually slightly cross with myself in the way I started the race. Mighty Mambo finished really strongly and had I been closer up sooner, you never know where we might have finished.

"Although I've learnt so much already, today has shown me that there's plenty more hard work ahead."

And the next stage of Pendleton's development promises to be just that - taking a 'Category A Amateur licence' course at the British Racing School.

Olympic gold medallist Victoria Pendleton is swapping one saddle for another as she aims to move into the world of horse racing.

The 34-year-old plans to race at the Cheltenham Festival next March in the Foxhunter Chase and is reportedly already working with leading trainer Paul Nicholls.

Pendleton retired from cycling after claiming gold in the keirin at London 2012 and now, funded by bookmakers Betfair, she hopes to move through the jockey ranks to a Category A amateur licence.

“I’ve been looking for a new and exciting challenge, and when they approached me about the opportunity to become a licensed amateur jockey, it captured my imagination,” she said.

“I’m motivated by the scale of the challenge and the opportunity to combine my love of horses with learning a new skill under the guidance of racing experts put together for me.

>>> Victoria Pendleton champions women-only Surrey sportive

“My team and I have identified the ambitious target of riding competitively in the Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival next year.

“But the initial focus will be on getting me to a level whereby I am granted an amateur jockey licence, which is a significant challenge in itself given that I had never even sat on a horse until a week ago.”

Olympic golden girl Victoria Pendleton admits she is finally able to enjoy riding her bike again, two years after she retired from competitive cycling.

The London 2012 keirin champion hung up her wheels after her home Games as Britain’s most successful female Olympian, turning her hand instead to writing an autobiography and competing in Strictly Come Dancing.

But now the pressure of professional cycling is off her shoulders, Pendleton told the London Evening Standard that she can finally enjoy her time on two wheels.

“This summer was the first time I’ve really been out on my bike since I retired properly and I have to say it’s probably the first time in a long time that I’ve just enjoyed pottering around the countryside,” she said.

“I went out with my neighbour who’s got a new bike and is also quite fit and I really enjoyed it – exploring the area around where I live, which I haven’t really done. It’s a bit like reminiscing.”

>>> Victoria Pendleton champions women-only Surrey sportive

The Standard reports that Pendleton is now working towards attaining her personal trainer qualifications, but has also presented documentaries for BBC Radio 5Live about the mental side of being an athlete.

>>> Bradley Wiggins talks about his cycling mentality in BBC radio documentary

Pendleton spoke openly during her career about the psychological strain of chasing success, but now the 34-year-old can just enjoy her surroundings rather than worry about numbers.

She added: “I didn’t thing I’d think that I was going to feel this way again – just being able to ride my bike for fun rather than think about the numbers, the speed and the performance.

“Just being able to potter around and go ‘Oh what a lovely day, look at the lovely colour of the trees today, the autumn leaves’ and just enjoy it for what it is – so I’m really pleased about that.”

Victoria Pendleton is swapping the velodrome as a cyclist for a village as an Emmerdale actress.

Pendleton, the two-time Olympic gold medallist, has dipped into an array of activities since her retirement after London 2012.

And now she is set to feature in the ITV soap on Friday, July 4 – the night before the Tour begins in nearby Leeds.

Pendleton’s exact role has not been revealed but the story line is to centre on the launch of Home Farm.

“Appearing on a soap is something I never expected to have the opportunity to do,” she told itv.com. “So when the chance came up I thought it would be really good fun and my mum is a massive Emmerdale fan so that made the decision very easy.”

Words by Chris Marshall-Bell

Great Britain's track cyclists took another two gold medals on the second day of track competition at the London Olympics and set more world records on the way.

The team pursuit quartet of Ed Clancy, Steven Burke, Peter Kennaugh and Geraint Thomas set their second world record as they comfortably beat the Australians to retain their Olympic title, while Victoria Pendleton won gold in the keirin.

The two wins means Great Britain have won three golds out of four events, having only missed out on a gold medal ride in the fourth event, the women's team sprint, after being relegated. It's a level of domination not seen from the British team since the Beijing Games in 2008.

The British team pursuiters stopped the clock at 3:51.659 to win gold with a three second buffer over Australia, a massive gap at this level of competition. "I never felt under pressure to be honest," said Britain's Peter Kennaugh afterwards, his first ever Olympic medal around his neck. "I think our ride was so consistent, we were comfortable in the first two kilometres and they were on their limit. We lifted it in the last two k and then held on. They were never coming back."

The margin of victory was a surprise to many. Australia won here in London at the world cup in February and the two were evenly matched at the world championships in April. The two teams - who are light years ahead of everyone else in the event - came to London knowing a world record would be needed to win, but the Australians were never on world record pace in any of their three rides.

Great Britain broke the world record in qualifying on day one, went close to breaking it again in the first round ride early in today's session and then broke it again in the final. "They rode to perfection and were the best team on the day," said Jack Bobridge, the lynchpin of the Australian team. "We rode fantastically on the day and left everything out there and we've come away with silver. We got beat by [a team] who beat the world record."

Britain's female team pursuiters competed in their qualifying round today, and also set a world record. That means that every British track racer who has ridden in a timed event so far has set a world record. It is a mind blowing statistic.

Joanna Rowsell, Laura Trott and Dani King were almost four seconds ahead of the United States in second place. Australia were in third. Great Britain and the USA were the only two teams to set new fastest times here in London. Australia were almost three seconds off their time from the world championships in April. It means the British trio go in to the next two rounds tomorrow as clear favourites for the gold.

Pendleton back to her best

Victoria Pendleton made light work of her opponents in the keirin, her least favourite event and the hardest one to predict. She has been clawing her way back to form for the last year, and has hit her peak just in time, looking every bit as fast as she did four years ago. She won her first two races with ease but the final should have been harder.

Australia's Anna Meares looked just as good as Pendleton and the final looked set to be a battle royale between them. But when Pendleton surged past Meares and hit the front with just over a lap to go the Australian found herself swamped by those hanging on to Pendleton's coat tails.

With the Briton holding her top speed all the way round the final lap, Meares had nowhere to go and finished out of the medals. Afterwards she admitted to getting her tactics wrong on the night and praised Pendleton. "Victoria bounced back today after the disappointment she faced in the team sprint, and I think that's exemplary of a champion."

Pendleton said; "It would have been nice to win a medal in all three of them, but these things happen. After I finished in the track I went outside and had a little cuddle with my baby nephew Nathan who's ten months old. That put it in perspective. When he's a few years older I'll tell him how he made everything seem all right tonight."

Pendleton shows off the second Olympic gold of her career

Pendleton beats China's Shuang Guo to keirin gold

Steven Burke leads British team pursuiters as they defend their Olympic title

We will keep track of the medals awarded for all of the cycling disciplines during the London 2012 Olympic Games on this page.

London 2012 cycling events: Medal table by nation

London 2012 cycling events: Medal winners

Gold

Jaroslav Kulhavy (Czech Republic) - men's mountain bike

Julie Bresset (France) - women's mountain bike

Maris Strombergs (Latvia) - men's BMX

Mariana Pajon (Colombia) - women's BMX

Sir Chris Hoy (Great Britain) - men's keirin

Anna Meares (Australia) - women's sprint

Laura Trott (Great Britain) - women's omnium

Jason Kenny (Great Britain) - men's sprint

Lasse Hansen (Denmark) - men's omnium

Joanna Rowsell, Laura Trott & Dani King (Great Britain) - women's team pursuit

Victoria Pendleton (Great Britain) - women's keirin

Ed Clancy, Steven Burke, Geraint Thomas & Peter Kennaugh (Great Britain) - men's team pursuit

Sir Chris Hoy, Jason Kenny & Philip Hindes (Great Britain) - men's team sprint

Kristina Vogel & Miriam Welte (Germany) - women's team sprint

Bradley Wiggins (Great Britain) - men's time trial

Kristin Armstrong (USA) - women's time trial

Alexandre Vinokourov (Kazakhstan) - men's road race

Marianne Vos (Netherlands) - women's road race

Silver

Nino Schurter (Switzerland) - men's mountain bike

Sabine Spitz (Germany) - women's mountain bike

Sam Willoughby (Australia) - men's BMX

Sarah Walker (New Zealand) - women's BMX

Maximilian Levy (Germany) - men's keirin

Victoria Pendleton (Great Britain) - women's sprint

Sarah Hammer (USA) - women's omnium

Gregory Bauge (France) - men's sprint

Brian Coquard (France) - men's omnium

Sarah Hammer, Dotsie Bausch & Lauren Tamayo (USA) - women's team pursuit

Guo Shuang (China) - women's keirin

Jack Bobridge, Glenn O'Shea, Rohan Dennis & Michael Hepburn (Australia) - men's team pursuit

Gregory Bauge, Kevin Sireau & Michael D'Almeida (France) - men's team sprint

Jinjie Gong & Shuang Guo (China) - women's team sprint

Tony Martin (Germany) - men's time trial

Judith Arndt (Germany) - women's time trial

Rigoberto Uran (Colombia) - men's road race

Lizzie Armitstead (Great Britain) - women's road race

Bronze

Marco Fontana (Italy) - men's mountain bike

Georgia Gould (USA) - women's mountain bike

Carlos Oquendo (Colombia) - men's BMX

Laura Smulders (Netherlands) - women's BMX

Simon van Velthooven (New Zealand) - men's keirin (tied)

Teun Mulder (Netherlands) - men's keirin (tied)

Guo Shuang (China) - women's sprint

Annette Edmondson (Australia) - women's omnium

Shane Perkins (Australia) - men's sprint

Ed Clancy (Great Britain) - men's omnium

Tara Whitten, Gillian Carleton & Jasmin Glaesser (Canada) - women's team pursuit

Wai Sze Lee (Hong Kong) - women's keirin

Sam Bewley, Marc Ryan, Jesse Sergent & Aaron Gate (New Zealand) - men's team pursuit

Rene Enders, Robert Forstemann & Maximilian Levy (Germany) - men's team sprint

Kaarle McCulloch & Anna Meares (Australia) - women's team sprint

Chris Froome (Great Britain) - men's time trial

Olga Zabelinskaya (Russia) - women's time trial

Alexander Kristoff (Norway) - men's road race

Olga Zabelinskaya (Russia) - women's road race

Men's BMX podium

Women's BMX podium

Silver for Victoria Pendleton and gold for Anna Meares in the women's sprint

Sir Chris Hoy: His sixth and last gold from the keirin

Laura Trott with omnium gold

Men's sprint podium

Team pursuit gold for Great Britain

Victoria Pendleton: Women's keirin gold

Great Britain: men's team pursuit champs

Men's team sprint podium

Women's time trial podium

Men's time trial podium

Women's road race podium

Men's road race podium

Events completed: 18
Men's mountain biking (August 12)
Women's mountain biking (August 11)

Men's BMX (August 10)

Women's BMX (August 10)
Men's keirin (August 7)

Women's sprint (August 7)

Women's omnium (August 7)
Men's sprint (August 6)
Men's omnium (August 5)
Women's team pursuit (August 4)
Women's keirin (August 3)
Men's team pursuit (August 3)
Men's team sprint (August 2)
Women's team sprint (August 2)
Men's time trial (August 1)

Women's time trial (August 1)

Women's road race (July 29)

Men's road race (July 28)

>>>> Track world championships 2012: Coverage index

Victoria Pendleton and Anna Meares have been playing down their rivalry the week before the 2012 Track Cycling World Championships in Melbourne. Pendleton said she would love to one day share a beer with Meares when speaking to the press earlier in the week, while Meares has said that rivalry is simply a fact of competitive life.

Speaking to Melbourne based newspaper The Age, Meares said; "sometimes with great rivalries you can't have great friendship, it's easier to just be competitors."

The two 'fell out' at the 2006 world track championships in Bordeaux following an aggressive piece of riding by Meares. Although the Australian apologised afterwards the relationship has always been a little frosty between the two.

"Perhaps it's going to be a case for Victoria and I to wait until we have retired and see where it goes from there. For me, I'm racing the world championships in a week's time [and] I really don't want to put my energy in to anything else at the moment."

Meares came out of the 2012 world championships with two world titles to her name while Pendleton won just one. Pendleton's title was however the sprint, the main title that is most coveted. She took it the hard way after losing out to Meares and crashing only to be reinstated after Meares was disqualified.

The pairs rivalry then moved on to the Olympics in London where they would face each other for the final time. Pendleton had announced long before that she would be retiring after the London Olympics and was determined to go out after defending her title.

Pendleton won a gold medal in the keirin ahead of the sprint competition and came up against Meares in the sprint final after the two comfortably disposed of everyone else in the field.

In the final Meares won out 2-0 having employed exactly the tactics that she knew Pendleton disliked. After a year out from competition following London 2012 Meares has resumed racing and took her 11th world title in the keirin in Paris last year.

Pendleton world titles
Sprint - 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012

Team sprint - 2007, 2008

Keirin - 2007

500m tt - N/A

Total - 9

Meares world titles

Sprint - 2011

Team sprint - 2009, 2010, 2011

Keirin - 2011, 2012, 2015

500m tt - 2004 2007, 2010, 2012

Total - 11

Related links

2011 track world championships