PARIS: American defending champion Jennifer Valente overpowered the field to defend her women´s omnium title in the final velodrome race of the Paris Olympics on Sunday.
Valente finished 13 points ahead of Poland´s Daria Pikulik, with New Zealand´s Ally Wollaston taking bronze, six points further back.
The omnium is one of track cycling´s most unpredictable events, featuring four separate races -- the scratch, tempo, elimination and points -- with riders collecting points in each.
Valente timed the opening 30-lap scratch race to perfection, pulling clear on the final stretch to take the maximum 40 points ahead of Canada´s Maggie Coles-Lyster.
Irish rider Lara Gillespie seized the initiative in the tempo, finishing first.