Pendleton Aims to Turn Nightmares Into Sweet Dreams

Victoria Pendleton will spend the next few weeks poring over videos of herself, Sir Chris Hoy and others racing in the keirin as she vows to stop the nightmares that haunt her after last week’s European Championships.

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The defending Olympic individual sprint champion admitted last night that the same nightmares she suffers whenever she is defeated have reared their head again following her second place in the team sprint with Jess Varnish, and her fifth place in the keirin at the Championships in Poland.

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“I have them every time I lose a race,” explained the 30-year-old, who is bidding for three gold medals at the 2012 London Olympics. “They come in two parts. First, trying to explain to myself why I lost, and what went wrong. The second part is a lot worse, though.

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“I find myself trying to explain to everyone else – my family, coaches and the world’s media – why I failed to win. I’m surrounded by press and cameras and I’m right in the middle of it all looking forlorn. It doesn’t keep me awake at night, but it is vivid, horrible and one I really don’t want to have to re-live too often if at all between now and after the 2012 London Games have finished.”

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If her desire for happier sleep is accomplished, and her dream of winning three Olympic medals in London becomes reality, then the queen of the velodrome has some work to do.

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“My aim is to win at least one gold, probably in the individual sprint, and be on the podium twice more in my three events in London,” Pendleton admitted as she launched EDF Energy’s “Switch Off Fortnight” campaign, aimed at encouraging schools to save electricity.

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“With that in mind the European Championships have been a useful learning experience for me. The second with Jess in the team sprint is fine because Jess is improving rapidly and we’re ahead of schedule at this time of the year in terms of our times. The fifth in the keirin is not so good, though, because I lost out due to my own tactics, and those of the others.

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“Basically my aim was to win and everyone else’s was to ensure I didn’t. It’s something I will have to come to terms with. As a former world keirin champion, and the current Olympic and world individual sprint champion, I am there to be shot at and I have to find ways to counter this.�

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“In the sprints I am comfortable but in the keirin you can be boxed out and lose, even if you are the best, because tactically you’ve got it wrong.

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“That’s what happened in Poland. Before, I’ve been relaxed about the keirin because it hasn’t been an Olympic event for the women. But now I need to change my outlook, and that’s why I’m going to spend the next few weeks watching hundreds of videos of myself and others such as Chris Hoy race in the keirin. If I’m going to medal in London, let alone win gold, then there’s much to improve on. “

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The plan now is to train in Australia – Pendleton leaves on November 26th – before racing in the World Cup in Melbourne and Colombia in December and then Manchester just prior to the 2011 World Championships in Holland in the Spring.�

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She insisted that she is in the best shape of her life, but also admitted that life is harder at the top, than for those still trying to reach the summit.

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“I’m envious of the younger members of the British team who aspire to reach the level I’m at,” she said. “I’d rather be there in some ways with no expectation than in the position I find myself where, if I don’t get at least one gold medal in London, it’s a disaster. “

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At least her participation is all but ensured as the best sprinter in the world. Behind there lies a major battle between Varnish and BMX world champion Shanaze Read, who fell on the BMX track in Beijing but who has won a world team sprint gold with Pendleton in 2007.

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"Jess has improved immeasurably but I know Shanaze wants to give it a go as well so in pushing each other they will improve. It’s going to be interesting to see who comes out on top.”

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Victoria Pendleton is supporting the nationwide Switch-Off Fortnight with EDF Energy’s Schools Programme, The Pod and Eco-Schools. Visit www.jointhepod.org�� - the picture sees Victoria visiting the St Ambrose Primary School in Manchester.

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