Olympic gold medallist Victoria Pendleton has revealed she still misses cycling as she launched a London academy for rising sports stars.
Speaking as she took to the saddle at the Lee Valley Velodrome, the 34-year-old former track cyclist told the Standard she had only been back in a velodrome “once or twice” since she officially retired after the London 2012 Games.
The two-time gold winner said: “I see people on road bikes enjoying the sun and riding along and I am really quite envious of them. Of course I miss cycling — in the summer months more than ever. I was hugely lucky to be part of Team GB and I will always be proud of that.”
Pendleton, originally from Stotfold, Bedfordshire, was speaking as she launched the 2015 Jaguar Land Rover Academy of Sport — a SportsAid project that gives 50 of the country’s rising stars, aged between 12 and 18, £2,000 of funding plus mentoring for a year.
Sir Bradley Wiggins, who on Sunday will attempt to set a new hour world record in the velodrome, is also an ambassador. Pendleton added: “I was lucky enough to get Sports Aid funding when I was younger and it really helped me. There is a lot of cost to factor in with cycling — the equipment, travelling costs to competitions and training.”
Sir Bradley added: “The Academy idea is great. I really hope that this, along with my hour challenge this weekend, inspires a new generation of competitive cyclists. I’d love to find the new Bradley Wiggins and anything that gets kids, or anyone, on a bike is a good thing.”
Pendleton is now training to be a jockey and hopes to compete at Cheltenham next year. “It’s even harder than cycling. I’d never really even been on a horse before and now I’m 15 weeks in I am beginning to see how much of a challenge it is. It is hard work.”
The Jaguar Land Rover Academy has awarded 276 bursaries since 2010 with 30 per cent of its Rising Stars going on to professional or world-class funding. This year eight are cyclists — five of whom took to the track with Pendleton.
