Great Britain finally clinched their first gold of the 2009 World Track Championships at the end of an epic ding-dong battle with New Zealand.
The GB trio of Wendy Houvenaghel, Jo Rowsell and Lizzie Armitstead finally cracked the jinx in the eighth event of the World Track Champinoships - and seventh in which Britain has participated
It was no easy ride either, with the British only putting any distance between themselves and the New Zealanders in the final third of the race to finally take gold by over a second.
Endurance Coach Dan Hunt even used the classic old trick of telling the trio they were behind when in fact they were ahead, to make sure they gave it the absolute maximum.
The result was Great Britain?s second victory in two years in the women?s team pursuit. And after the GB gold rush at Mallorca, Manchester and Beijing, the sound of the National Anthem ringing out in the Pruskow stadium for the first time was more than welcome.
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For Lizzie Armitstead as well, the hard-earned British victory constituted her first senior title, another big step forward in a career which already looked very promising.
For Houvenhagel meanwhile, taking gold more than compensated for her individual pursuit defeat the previous night, where New Zealander Alison Shanks had forcd her to settle for silver.
?It has really made up for the disappointment of last night,? Houvenhagel argued
?I?ll have the next few weeks off and it?ll be nice to have some time to relax and enjoy this win.?
Great Britain has a total of six medals from the World's 2009: one gold, three silvers and two bronzes.
Result: Women?s Team Pursuit
1. Great Britain 3-22.720
2. New Zealand 3-23.993
3. Australia 3-24.972
4. Holland 3-29.379
Qualifying
5. Lithuania
6. China
7. Germany
8. Russia
9. Belgium
10. Colombia
11. Belarus
12. Italy
13. Poland
14. Spain
The GB trio on their way to victory in the team pursuit
Getting some media attention after the win
All that glitters: Lizzie Armitstead, Wendy Houvenaghel and Jo Rowsell
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