Joanna Rowsell (Great Britain) has been crowned world champion for a second time at the 2014 world track championships in Cali, Colombia, after winning the women’s individual pursuit.
Rowsell, who claimed her first gold medal of this championships two days ago as a member of the Great British quartet that won the team pursuit, registered a convincing victory over Sarah Hammer (USA), the world record holder at the distance.
Rowsell, an Olympic champion on the track and the British time trial champion on the road, shared her delight on Twitter.
“Can’t believe I am Individual Pursuit World Champion!!! What an amazing week! Thank you so much for all the messages!” she said.
The Surrey rider crossed the line some 1.2 seconds before Hammer, completing the 3km distance in a time of 3.30.318. Australian Amy Clure took the bronze.
Great Britain’s Jess Varnish qualified for the finals of the women’s individual sprint by defeating her team-mate, Becky James – the defending champion.
The pair had claimed a bronze medal in the women’s team sprint two days earlier, with Varnish riding in the ‘man one’ position.
The West Midlands rider saw off her Welsh rival in convincing fashion, registering a 2-0 margin of victory over James, who won two world titles at the world championships in Minsk, 12 months ago.
Varnish will line-up against Tianshi Zhong (China) today to compete for a place in the final. China is represented in both semi-finals. Tianshi’s team-mate, Junhong Lin, will race the defending champion, Kristina Vogel of Germany, in the other semi-final.
Great Britain’s Ed Clancy is sixth overall in the men’s omnium with half of the six events completed. The double Olympic champion began his campaign in convincing style by winning the flying lap, but finished 13th in the points race and eighth in the elimination race.
Kian Emadi, one of a host of young British sprinting talents, suffered disappointment in the kilo, where he finished twelfth. He is the British champion in the discipline.
Laura Trott and Katie Archibald, Rowsell’s team-mates in the gold medal winning women’s team pursuit squad, will aim to match her achievement in winning a second gold medal. Trott will contest the women’s ominium and Archibald will ride in the points race.
The 2014 world track championships concludes tomorrow.
