Olympics cycling: Meares pips Pendleton to cycling gold

London: Anna Meares of Australia consigned defending champion Victoria Pendleton to defeat in a controversial Olympic cycling sprint final Tuesday.

Pendleton was relegated after winning the first race of the best-of-three series for veering out of her sprint lane. In the second, Meares timed her final burst to the line to perfection to round off a 2-0 win and the gold medal. It was revenge for Meares after Pendleton pipped her to gold in the Beijing final. "My coach said to me, `one race at a time and you nail it and you execute it to perfection,` and I think I did that," Meares said. "It`s been such a difficult challenge and to be able to win the Olympic title for me, it`s so special." For Pendleton, 31, it was a second lane violation of the Games after being relegated in the women`s team sprint Thursday alongside partner Jess Varnish for an illegal changeover. "I am just so relieved right now. I am just so overwhelmed with emotion," Pendleton said. "I would have loved to have won in my final race. At the same time, I am just so glad I am done and I can move on." On her double relegation that tainted her last Games, Pendleton vented frustration. "I was really annoyed because I was sure that she touched me and it caused me to move up. I cannot believe twice in one competition that I have been relegated, disqualified, it`s unheard of." Pendleton fought off a determined charge from China`s Shuang Guo to win the women`s keirin event the next day. IANS