Trott adds omnium title to her pursuit gold and world record

WHILE Sir Chris Hoy stole the show in Melbourne yesterday, it was Laura Trott who was the golden girl as Great Britain won medals of all three colours on the penultimate day of the Track Cycling World Championships.

Jason Kenny had to settle for silver and Hoy for bronze in the men’s sprint, while Ben Swift won silver in the men’s points race, but Trott’s triumph in the women’s omnium was the highlight.

The 19-year-old from Cheshunt, Hertfordshire – a team pursuit world champion and world record setter on day two – claimed her first individual crown. “I’m pretty shocked. The world record and World Championship in the team pursuit would’ve been enough for me. I’m just over the moon.” Trott said. “I didn’t expect to win. I thought maybe I would pick up a medal, because I had been in the World Cups, but to win – what more can I ask for?” The performance suggested Trott, who will be 20 on April 24, can win Olympic gold in the event in August.

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Trott finished second in the flying lap, eighth in the points race and won the elimination race on Friday, before yesterday placing third in the three-kilometre individual pursuit and 13th in the scratch race, marking eventual runner-up Annette Edmondson of Australia throughout.

A win in the final event, the 500m time-trial, sealed overall victory.

Trott’s unbeaten run in the omnium’s final event dates back to December 2010, but she believes her performance in the penultimate discipline was the key to her success.

“My tactic was just to follow the Australian around all day long and when she started to move just make sure that I nipped her on the line. It was a closer race than I wanted it to be. “In the 500 I just did what I always do. I nailed it.”

Trott has always been proficient against the clock, but has also been analysing video of bunch races with coach Paul Manning.

She emulated her success at February’s London Track World Cup in the elimination race and secured a best points race result as she secured overall victory by three points from Edmondson, with Sarah Hammer of the United States finishing in third.

Trott was joint first overnight with Edmondson and had a fitful night’s sleep before being woken at her hotel on Saturday morning by anti-doping officials.

“The dope control came round at 8.30am. I was already up because I couldn’t sleep.”

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