Varnish takes gold on track return (From Dudley News)

Varnish takes gold on track return

3:54pm Friday 12th October 2012 in Sport

HALESOWEN cycling queen Jess Varnish made a superb return to the track with gold at the World Cup.

Varnish, competing for the first time since her Olympics ended in disqualification, cruised to victory alongside Becky James in the women’s team sprint event in Cali.

The pair, reunited following Victoria Pendleton’s retirement from the sport, qualified fastest in a time of 33.466 at the Alcides Nieto Patiño velodrome before overcoming Japan in the gold medal final.

In a switch from her usual role, Varnish rode the anchor lap with James leading off on lap one.

Their qualifying time was a whole one and a half second ahead of the second best Japansese team and though they went slightly slower in the final, clocking 33.374, it was still a comfortable win.

Varnish is back in action later today in the individual sprint, before riding in tomorrow’s keirin event.