Victoria Pendleton and Steven Burke claimed the opening titles at the Great British Track Championships on Tuesday night in Manchester. Pendleton (Team Sky+ HD) claimed the women's 500m time trial ahead of Jess Varnish (Halesowen A & CC) and Rebecca James (Abergavenny Road Club). Burke (100% ME) rode to an impressive victory in the men's kilo ahead of Ed Clancy (Team Halfords Bikehut) and David Daniell (Cleveland Wheelers CC).
The women's 500m time trial ran to form with Pendleton edging out her younger rivals, Varnish and James, to take her seventh British title in the event. The Olympic gold medallist recorded a time of 34.262. A week out from the opening round of the International Cycling Union's (UCI) track World Cup, it was a satisfying result for the 29-year-old.
"I'm really pleased with today - this is the third or fourth best time I've ever done, and it's by far the fastest time I've put in at this stage in the year so I'm pleasantly surprised," said Pendleton after her victory. "Training for the World Cup starts today, so preparation is going ok! It's much better than I expected - I was expecting to do a mid to high 34. It's great to see Jess and Becky coming through and putting in good times tonight too - having these girls with me in training as they push me to train harder."
Steven Burke surprised himself with his win in the men's kilo. The 21-year-old had finished third in the 2008 British Championships, but this year was able edge out Halford's Ed Clancy by a tenth of a second. David Daniell finished in third, under a second behind the kilo champion.
"I really didn't expect a win tonight, I thought I'd come in third so I'm really shocked to win," said Burke afterwards. "I got everything out in the ride tonight - my preparation has gone really well and the work we've put in for the Team Pursuit has really helped me today."
| 1 | Victoria Pendleton (Team Sky+ HD) | 0:00:34 |
| 2 | Jess Varnish (Halesowen A & CC) | 0:00:01 |
| 3 | Rebecca James (Abergavenny Road Club) | 0:00:02 |
| 4 | Helen Scott (Halesowen A & CC) | 0:00:02 |
| 5 | Charline Joiner (City of Edinburgh RC) | 0:00:03 |
| 6 | Alison Chisholm (Edinburgh RC) | 0:00:03 |
| 7 | Jenny Davis (City of Edinburgh RC) | 0:00:04 |
| 8 | Sarah Storey (VC St Raphael) | 0:00:04 |
| 9 | Emma Baird (BC PM) | 0:00:04 |
| 10 | Janet Birkmyre (XRT - elmycycles.co.uk) | 0:00:04 |
| 11 | Rachel Turner (VC St Raphael) | 0:00:05 |
| 12 | Cassie Gledhill (XRT - elmycycles.co.uk) | 0:00:05 |
| 13 | Cheryl Owens (GS Metro) | 0:00:08 |
| 14 | Louise Satherley (Yasumitsu Schlapp) | 0:00:08 |
| 15 | Ruth Middleton (East London Vélo) | 0:00:09 |
| 1 | Steven Burke (100% ME) | 0:01:03 |
| 2 | Edward Clancy (Team Halfords Bikehut) | 0:00:00 |
| 3 | David Daniell (Cleveland Wheelers CC) | 0:00:01 |
| 4 | Andrew Tennant (Team Halfords Bikehut) | 0:00:02 |
| 5 | Andrew Fenn (100% ME) | 0:00:03 |
| 6 | Bruce Croall (City of Edinburgh RC) | 0:00:04 |
| 7 | Jody Cundy (scienceinsport.com) | 0:00:04 |
| 8 | Alex Dowsett (100% ME) | 0:00:04 |
| 9 | Ben Elliot (VC St Raphael) | 0:00:04 |
| 10 | Mark Christian (100% ME) | 0:00:05 |
| 11 | Richard Lambert (Cottingham Coureurs RT) | 0:00:09 |
| 12 | Thomas Powell (Newcastle RC) | 0:00:09 |
| 13 | Rowan Elliot (VC St Raphael) | 0:00:10 |
| 14 | Joseph Wood (BC PM) | 0:00:10 |
| 15 | Joseph Allen (BC PM) | 0:00:10 |
| 16 | B McCullough (Young City of Edinburgh) | 0:00:10 |
| 17 | Simon Warren (Norwood Paragon CC) | 0:00:10 |
| 18 | Terry Byrne (BC Paracycling Dev Prog) | 0:00:11 |
| 19 | Jon-Allen (Butterworth BC Paracycling Dev) | 0:00:12 |
| 20 | Oliver Lougheed (Manchester Whlrs Club) | 0:00:13 |
| 21 | James Viner (Twickenham CC) | 0:00:13 |
| 22 | Callum Watson (City of Edinburgh RC) | 0:00:14 |
| 23 | Neil Laing (Edinburgh RC) | 0:00:15 |
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