Reade targets four world titles in busy 2009

Posted: Tuesday 24th March 2009 | 11:48

SHATTERED dreams and broken bones, Shanaze Reade's Olympics ended in frustrated and painful tears.

REVIVED AND REFOCUSED: Shanaze Reade is planning a busy 2009 in a bid to forget a disappointing 2008 (Getty Images)

Before Beijing, the 19-year BMXer was considered Britain's most stitched-on gold medal chance, with a three-year unbeaten record to her name.

But she ended up just stitched-up, as a final bend crash in the women's final left her cut and bruised as France's Anne-Caroline Chausson sprinted clear for gold.

Reade - in the vernacular of her chosen sport - was certainly not ‘stoked'.

However, this week she plans to show the world that she's recovered from that Olympic heartache as he refocuses her sights on the road to London 2012.

Reade, now 20, swaps her BMX for a track bike to compete with Olympic champion Victoria Pendleton in the team sprint at the track World Championships in Pruszkow.

The pair are looking for a hat-trick of world titles in the event - which is not part of the Olympic programme - having claimed gold in Majorca and Manchester in recent years.

But Reade's season won't end there - she's also planning to defend her BMX world title in Adelaide this July and compete in the Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships in Canberra two months later.

"Last year my whole focus was the Olympics and winning that gold medal," said Reade.

"When I came back I took some time off because of the injury and just tried to come to terms with what happened there.

"It wasn't long before I knew I wanted to race again and I wanted to set myself a big target for this season.

"I want to push and challenge myself, I want to learn to adapt to each different bike and discipline. I want to show the world there is more about me than one race at the Olympics.

"I have set myself the goal of winning four world titles this year, one being cruiser in BMX, so I have a massive year ahead.

"I'm taking it one Worlds at a time, so while I'm aiming for four, if I get two, then fine."

However, Reade's involvement in British Cycling's track programme - still basking in the glow of their 14-medal haul at the Laoshan velodrome - wasn't certain.

"It took some time to realise I wanted to be on the track again," she added.

"But when I realised I wanted to defend my title with Victoria, it really focused me. I was set a high standard to get in the team and I was very nervous in the trial.

"But since I've been selected and I've only got faster and faster."