Cycling: McGregor misses her target

Yvonne McGregor broke four British track records last night, but the Commonwealth Games champion missed her main target, the world hour record of 48.159km (29.93miles), on Manchester's 250-metre wooden track.

She covered 47.608km, improving on the 1995 figures that first gave her the world mark with 47.411km, but the former triathlon international was more than two laps short of the mark set by the world and Olympic champion, Jeannie Longo, of France, at altitude in Mexico City.

Although she faded in the last 30 minutes, she was still fast enough to improve her British marks for five, 10, and 20km, and improve her British hour record by 197m. Her biggest improvement was taking 20 seconds off the 20km record.

"If I try again for the world record it will probably be my swan-song when I am ready to hang up my wheels," said the 36-year-old from Bradford. She gave up an international running career after 18 years because of an Achilles tendon injury.

"I now have to concentrate on the World Championships, next year's Commonwealth Games, and international road racing."