VICTORIA Pendleton has failed to finish her career with a third gold medal at the Olympics this afternoon after losing a controversial sprint final to bitter rival Anna Meares.

Pendleton, a life member of Mildenhall Cycling Club, lost to Meares in a dramatic women’s individual sprint at the velodrome today.

She was relegated to second in the first race after controversially being adjudged to have left her racing line to claim the narrowest of victories.

And she then lost the second race in the best of three series, leaving her with silver.

A tearful Pendleton added: “I’m just so relieved and I’m overwhelmed with emotion. I would have loved to have won in my final race but I’m glad that it’s all done and I can move on,” said Pendleton.

“I’m glad that it was me and Anna Meares in the final, it was the way it should have been. She was a fantastic competitor. But I’m very glad that that’s the last time I will be doing that.

“I can’t believe that twice in one competition that I’ve been disqualified and relegated, it’s unheard of. I really tried in that last race though and I can’t believe it’s all over.”