Victoria Pendleton was crowned The 2007 Sunday Times Sportswoman Of The Year today - and she could not believe it.

A sensational 12 months for the British cyclist saw her win three world track titles, earning her this honour here at Lord's ahead of four-time world rowing champion Katherine Grainger and 400 metres world champion Christine Ohuruogu.

Pendelton, 27, is in Perth preparing for the start of the World Cup season and counting down the days to next summer's Olympic Games in Beijing.

She was presented with her award in Australia by Britain's Olympic gold medallist Chris Hoy and she said: "I am really hoping 2008 will be a great year. It is fantastic to have won this award."

If she was humble, she did not have to be. What a year it has been for Pendleton, who won gold medals in the Individual Sprint, the Team Sprint and the Keirin at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Mallorca in March.

Her success helped Britain to finish top of the overall medals standing with seven golds, the perfect platform for Beijing.

“I cannot believe I have done it,” Pendleton said after her treble glory. “Let's face it, winning a medal has become average in this team so you have to make sure it is a bit special. I wanted to win one, but to come away with three is a big surprise.

"I have had the season of my life. The way I felt at the World Championships was the way you dream about feeling in an ideal situation. If in 2004 someone had said to me what would happen, I am not sure I would have believed them"

The Bedford-born athlete became a cyclist because of her father Max who competes himself. It was fitting that he was here to step onto the stage to speak today on her behalf. "When she was 12 or 13, we realised she had something special," he said. "All dads think their kids are special. Victoria was very sceptical about what her skills are. If you have a kid which you think is really special, keep managing."

Both Grainger, who stroked Britain's women's quadruple sculls to world championship glory, and Ohuruogu, returning after a year out of the athletics to take the world title, showed just how strong sporting success is among British women.

Pendleton's glory stood out and now she is determined to add to it at the Olympics. The Beijing programme will allow her to compete in only one event - the sprint - because the 500km time trial has been taken out to allow room for BMX Racing.

She used to race on grass tracks with men, because there was no women's category, and her progression saw her win four silver medals at the national championships in 2001 while she was still a student.

Greater funding has allowed athletes greater time to concentrate on what once seen as a minor sport and today proved she has become one of the most successful sportswomen in Britain.

But now everything is geared towards Beijing. "The Olympic medal is what counts," Pendleton said. "This is it for me. It is "Judgement Day”.

Winner: Victoria Pendlelton (cycling); 2. Katherine Grainger (rowing); 3. Christine Ohuruogu (athletics).

Presented by: Alex Butler, Sports Editor of The Sunday Times.

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