ABERGAVENNY'S cycling ace Becky James has once again demonstrated her complete command of her chosen sport after bettering some of Europe's most experienced riders and taking Gold at the UEC European U23/Junior Track Cycling Championships.
After announcing herself on the world scene by claiming a double whammy of World Junior Gold last year in Moscow, James's name has long been synonymous with track cycling events.
Last Monday at Lokosfinks Velodrome in St. Petersburg, Russia, the talented teen added to her already impressive array of achievements by dominating the Women's U23 Sprint.
James, who will be heading to Delhi, India this October to represent Britain in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, qualified third fastest (11.443s) in St. Petersburg behind the French pairing of Virginie Cueff (11.281s) and Sandie Clair (11.406s).
James had a score to settle with the two French riders as they had outclassed James and her British teammate Victoria Williamson in the Women's U23 European Team Sprint held two days earlier.
In the individual sprint, James, Cueff and Clair progressed easily to the semi-finals where Cueff wiped the floor with former Junior World Champion - Russia's Viktoria Baranova.
However, all eyes were glued to the Clair versus James semi, as the experienced French speedster who won Bronze in the 2008 Senior 500m TT World Champs, went one-up in a very close first heat.
James turned the tide in the second heat and forced a decider on who would join Clair in the quest for Gold.
The Abergavenny athlete upped the ante with superior tactics to glide comfortably into the final and leave Clair with only the Bronze to compete for.
With her confidence sky high, James proved what a talented and tactical sprinter she is to bounce back from one down in the final against Cueff and take the Gold Medal 2-1.
Next month James will head to the Commonwealths and hopefully more medals.
Watch this space.