Romero pedals to second gold

By Martyn Herman

MANCHESTER (Reuters) - Former Olympic rowing medallist Rebecca Romero claimed a second gold medal at the world track cycling championships on Friday as part of the British pursuit team.

The 28-year-old, who won her first world cycling gold on Thursday in the individual pursuit when she beat American Sarah Hammer, produced a faultless ride with Joanna Rowsell and teenager Wendy Houvenaghel to destroy Ukraine in a world best.

"I slept with my medal last night, very childish I know but inspiring," she told reporters after taking Britain's gold medal tally to five with the promise of more to come later when Chris Hoy rides in the men's sprint final.

"The three weeks leading into this you really have to step beyond something you do every day and lift yourself to another level. You go through every scenario and only one of those ends with you winning and now it has happened twice.

"I'm very excited about this, especially it being a new event. The crowd was absolutely fantastic."

As a rower Romero won silver in quadruple sculls at the 2004 Athens Olympics and gold at the 2005 world championships.

After falling out of love with rowing she took up cycling when a friend suggested it would suit her.

Romero won the British time trial title in 2006 and last year in Palma won a world silver in the individual pursuit.