Meares pips Pendleton to cycling gold

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Great Britain's Victoria Pendleton was denied a third Olympic title as her perennial rival Anna Meares claimed sprint gold at the London 2012 velodrome.

After watching Laura Trott become a double Olympic champion with victory in the omnium, Pendleton met Meares in the best-of-three final in a repeat of the 2008 gold medal race which the Briton won.
The 31-year-old was aiming to finish her career on a high with a third Olympic gold - a record for a British female - and her superior pace saw her cross the line first in the first bout, but she strayed from the sprinting lane under supreme pressure from the physical Meares and commissaires awarded the Australian victory.
Pendleton had to respond in the second bout to force a decider and Meares was in front first, watching her opponent.
Meares came to a near halt at the end of the first of three laps, forcing Pendleton to the front.
The Australian rounded Pendleton on the outside and the Briton could not respond as Meares celebrated before the line by punching the air.
It ended hopes of a fairytale conclusion to Pendleton's sensational career and saw Meares take revenge for Beijing.
China's Guo Shuang won bronze with a 2-0 defeat of Kristina Vogel of Germany.
Pendleton told BBC1: "I'm just so relieved right now.
"I've been a bit overwhelmed with emotion.
"I would have loved to have won on my final race but I'm just so glad that's it all done and I can move on."
She also paid tribute to Meares, who has been her main adversary throughout her career, and it was perhaps fitting that she bowed out against the Australian.
"I'm glad that it got to that stage," Pendleton said. "I think she's the best rider in the field and it's the way that it should have been.
"Everything turned out right with Anna and myself in the final. She's a fantastic competitor, we've met many a time, and I wish her all the best but I'm very glad to be saying that's the last time I have to go through that."
On her relegation in the first race, she added: "I was really annoyed because I'm sure that she touched me and it caused me to move up.
"I can't believe, twice in one competition, I've been disqualified and relegated, it's unheard of. It's a bit of a surprise, it did knock my confidence a bit I must say."