• London Olympics 2012

I've always hated cycling - Pendleton

ESPN staff
March 12, 2011
Victoria Pendleton: 'I'm just unfortunately good at [cycling]' © Getty Images
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Olympic and world champion Victoria Pendleton has made the startling revelation that she has never enjoyed a cycling competition.

The 30-year-old, one of Britain's leading medal hopes for the 2012 Olympics, is struggling to cope with the weight of national expectation that has built ever since the last Games finished.

"I can't forget how close it is because ever since we stepped off the plane from Beijing, it's been, 'What are you going to do in London?'" she told the Times. "It's always there, always in the forefront of your mind, the most important thing that's ever going to happen to us. I'm expecting it to be the hardest thing I've ever had to deal with.

"I've always hated it. I'm just unfortunately good at it. It's you and your opponent, the pressure of having to be so focused, when your heart feels like it's exploding out of your chest, you're so nervous and you're trying to maintain complete composure, like you're some kind of calm, alpha personality.

"Well, it's not me. It's not me at all. It's hard work, really hard work, and it's incredibly draining. I hate it, I really hate it. Sometimes when I watch it on TV, I actually laugh out loud because, what a ridiculous sport. You're not actually going anywhere; you're just ending up in the same place and you only turn left."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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