DOUBLE world cycling champion Shanaze Reade has one eye on the 500m time trial world title this year as well as the defence of her BMX crown in China a month later.

Reade was fifth in her individual event at last year's World Championships but teamed up with Victoria Pendleton to take gold in the team sprint.

"I never set out on my track career with a target of winning the World Championships,"said the Cheshire star.

"It was always crossover training for BMX and it still is at the moment.

"But I seem to be getting faster and faster on the track.

"Sometimes I think that I should put all my eggs in one basket in BMX.

"But last year I did both and managed to win gold medals in each and it was the best year I have had in the sport so far."

Reade will also have the extra advantage of trying to take an individual title on her `home track.'

The UCI World Championships take place at Sportcity on March 26, one of the six elite sporting events making up Manchester World Sport '08.

"It is so hard to qualify for both BMX and the track, so I am going to carry on like I did last year and see what doors open for me," explains Reade.

"I am leaving it late for the World Track Championships again.

"I have only done one training session since Palma but I have produced a personal best on starts.

"So, I am getting faster without specific track training.Winning the team sprint event in Palma was something that I never even dreamed of.

Palma

"I used to watch track cycling on TV when I was a kid and it was mad when I went home and watched a tape of my ride in Palma on video tape.

"I am going into a training phase aimed at helping my BMX but I think I can also win a world track championship out of it.

"I was called up in Palma to take Victoria Pendleton's place in the 500m time trial when she had made the sprint finals and it was not something I had specifically trained for.

"I had never even done two laps before so I thought I would just give my best and pedal as hard as I could to the finish and I ended up fifth behind the Olympic champion and world record holder.

"I was so close to making the podium without training for it."

Britain can qualify for two places in the 500m time trial and Reade will have to be going faster than either Anna Blyth or Victoria Pendleton if she wants the ride.

The five-day championship event in Manchester means that Pendleton can go for four events this time including the 500m event.

Pendleton holds the British record of 34.070 seconds but this is likely to be challenged by Reade this year.

Both riders will have to beat Australia's current world champion and world record holder Anna Meares, who also won gold last year, in Manchester.

MEN Media is the official media partner for the Cycling World Championships and the Manchester World Sport 08.

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