MANCHESTER, March 28: Rebecca Romero took a leap into the unknown when she decided two years ago to abandon her medal-strewn rowing career to take up cycling.

A year later, the British rider had a world championship silver medal; on Thursday, she struck gold.

Romero beat defending champion Sarah Hammer of the United States in the 3-kilometre individual pursuit on the track at Britain’s national cycling center in Manchester, where she first started riding. — AP