• London 2012 - Cycling

No sprint medal for GB women after relegation

Victoria Pendleton: 'We didn't change over in the right zone' © Getty Images

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The Great Britain women's sprint team will not compete for a medal after being relegated from a place in the final.

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Jess Varnish and Victoria Pendleton were due to battle the China duo for gold - but were punished for changing over on the wrong part of the track during their heat.

Pendleton told the BBC: "We didn't change over in the right zone. If Jess moves up slightly, I just go. That's what happened. We've never really had an illegal change before, so we've not been concerned in the past. It's just one of those things that happens.

"It's not Jess' fault or my fault, we're both partly to blame. We were probably too overwhelmed by the whole thing, too eager.

"Now and again rubbish things happen - and this is one of those days. On the whole we've had a really excellent run. We were hoping to go a bit faster. The only positives we can take is that my form here is really good.

"All I can do now is get my head down, focus on tomorrow, and the sprint competition the day after that, and give it everything I got."

Varnish and Pendleton had set a world record earlier on Thursday, only to see the Chinese pair overhaul it.

Varnish's Olympics are now over as she is not competing in any other events.

British misfortune was Germany's gain, however - as they were elevated to the gold medal race as a result of finishing third fastest.

They narrowly succumbed to China in the final but were then amazingly elevated to gold - as China fell foul of the same technical rule that had brought Britain's downfall.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.