Pendleton follows Hoy in withdrawing from Delhi

WORLD and Olympic champion Victoria Pendleton has become the latest British athlete to withdraw from this year's Commonwealth Games in favour of the European Championships, which carry Olympic qualifying points.

"It's a no-brainer, points for Olympics qualification are on offer," said the 29-year-old cyclist, who won Commonwealth gold in Melbourne four years ago. "Unfortunately you are not going to jeopardise going to the London ]2012] Olympics, so we have to go to the Europeans."

The clash of the two events has already forced quadruple Olympic gold medallist Chris Hoy to withdraw from the Commonwealths in Delhi in October.

The new European championships do not yet have a confirmed date or venue but, following changes to the Olympic programme that will limit the number of riders to one from each country per event and the number of European teams allowed to race in the team sprint, they have become an essential qualifier.

"It's really unfortunate we can't do both competitions," Pendleton added.

Meanwhile, Welsh teenager Becky James has seen her chances of even making the team for London 2012 reduced dramatically by the rule change.

James will at least have three disciplines - sprint, team sprint and keirin - to go for after the International Olympic Committee confirmed there will be parity between the sexes for the first time.

But, with Pendleton setting her sights on matching Hoy's gold hat-trick from China, the 18-year-old knows she has a major battle on her hands.

She said: "It's going to be a tough challenge to get there because there's a few of us girls who all want that same spot so I'm going to have to work really hard over the next two years if I want to make it there. It was a massive blow. It's going to be really competitive between all of us but it's happened now and we've got to deal with it."