Laura Trott steps up a gear to claim Team GB’s latest cycling gold – beating Sarah Hammer of the United States into silver medal position in the women’s omnium.
The battle for gold medal was between the USA’s Sarah Hammer, who was in top spot after five omnium races, and Trott. She had to finish three places ahead of Hammer, in the final race, the time time trial, to take the gold.
It is Trott’s second gold of the London 2012 Olympic Games after winning in the team pursuit.
Trott finished with a time of 35.110 seconds – putting her in gold medal position in the time trial. Sarah Hammer got 35.900 seconds putting her into the fourth place in that event – meaning Laura Trott won gold.
Trott, the Essex born 20-year-old, was leading the women’s omnium at the end of the first day of races, yesterday. However, today she has been overtaken on points by the USA’s Hammer.
After the first five events Trott was on 17 points compared to Hammer’s 15.
The omnium is made up of six track cycling events, the 250m flying lap time trial, the 20km points race,the elimination race, the individual pursuit, the 10km scratch race and the time trial.
Trott finished first in the flying lap, with Hammer finishing in fifth. Hammer fought back in the points race, taking the gold position with Trott in third. The last of the first three omnium races to take place yesterday, the elimination race, was won by Trott with Hammer in second place.
The first race today was the individual pursuit, which Hammer won and Trott finished in second. Hammer than took the top spot in the scratch race with Trott again finishing in the second place.
Following Trott, Sir Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton compete in the men’s keirin and the women’s sprint.