Delight at gold but silver was “unfair”

Max Pendleton described his daughter’s triumph in the women’s keirin race on Friday as “brilliant.” He was able to watch Victoria speed her way to victory from his seat at the Olympic velodrome.

He was also at the venue for the women’s sprint semi-final and final on Tuesday. Max described his anger at the commissaires’ controversial decision to relegate Victoria to second place in the final.

Victoria had won the first race by 0.001 of a second but this was taken from her because she veered out of place on the track after her Australian rival Anna Meares’ elbow made contact with her.

Max said: “The silver; it would have been nice to work out a different way and go out on a fairy tale ending but fairy tales don’t always happen.

“The atmosphere was unbelievable, in particular when she got disqualified in that sprint. The whole velodrome booed. It was so unfair.”

Victoria was unable to get back into gold position in the second race in which Meares beat her to the finishing line.

Speaking about the enthusiastic support in her home town of Stotfold, Max said: “There was all sorts of stuff going on in the village, which is smashing. The butchers in Regent Street did a big display.”

He said that Victoria, who has now retired from racing, has talked about working with her fiancé, sports scientist Scott Gardner. Max believes that together they would make a much sought after coaching team. He added: “They are courting her to go and do Strictly Come Dancing.

“She’s never danced before but she succeeds at everything she does - her degree was still achieved when she was in professional competitions as well.”

Supporters from Stotfold gathered at the football club to watch Victoria’s last races.

Organiser and town clerk, Kate Elliott-Turner, said: “We had a really good turnout.

“Because it was so close in the first run we were all on the edge of our seats to the finishing and the drop in people’s faces when she was disqualified! A lot of them thought Anna Meares was in the wrong with her elbow.

“We were pleased she still got silver. It’s a heck of an achievement. We are very proud of her.”

Stotfold Town Council hopes to organise a congratulatory event in the autumn, to which they will invite Victoria.