Double world cycling champion Shanaze Reade has one eye on the women?s 500m time trial world title this year as well as targeting the defence of her BMX crown in China a month later.
20-year-old Reade believes that she can improve on her fifth place in the 2007 Track Cycling World Championships in Palma, Mallorca and would love to have a chance at the solo title. Reade won gold in the women?s team sprint in Palma teaming up with Victoria Pendleton to beat the Dutch pairing of Yvonne Hijgenaar and Willy Kanis to clinch the gold medal.
Reade in action: the fastest start in the business
?I was called up in Palma to take Victoria Pendleton?s place in the 500m time trial when she had made the sprint finals and it was not something I had specifically trained for,? continued Reade: ?I had never even done two laps before so I thought I would just give my best and pedal as hard as I could to the finish and I ended up fifth behind the Olympic champion and world record holder. I was so close to making the podium without training for it. I hadn?t even used the aero bars or ridden double disc wheels before so I want to get on the podium this time.?
Britain can qualify for two places in the 500m time trial and Reade will have to be going faster than either Anna Blyth or Victoria Pendleton if she wants the ride. The five-day championship event in Manchester means that Pendleton can go for four events this time including the 500m event. Pendleton holds the British record of 34.070 seconds but this is likely to be challenged by Reade this year. Both riders will have to beat current world champion Anna Meares in Manchester. Meares produced a blistering two laps to win the gold medal last year and set a new world record of 33.588.
Meares won 500m race in the Sydney round of the World Cup in November and Lisandra Guerra Rodriguez of Cuba produced a super-fast time of 33.994 to win the last round in Beijing in December.
?There are three of us going for the GB two spots. I wasn?t far off Victoria?s best time and I hold the UK record for the one lap (250m) so we will see. I am scheduled to ride in the Copenhagen World Cup in February. I will do the 500m time trial there and the team sprint as well.?
Reade hails from nearby Crewe and she is expecting some keen support from the home fans.
?My BMX club and all my family are going to get tickets for the World Championships in Manchester. The came to the World Cup event there last year it was mad seeing everyone I knew and it was my first time out on a track bike. It will be great to have their support again this year.?
Reade with Team Sprint partner Victoria Pendleton sharing the honours at the 2007 Track World Championships
RELATED LINKS
Reade and Staff join Kelly Holmes to coach kids
Reade looking good for BMX gold
Pendleton and Reade scoop Sunday Times Sportwomen of the Year award
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