Victoria Pendleton: Inside the mind of a maverick

It's more than three years since Victoria Pendleton became an Olympic champion in the women's sprint in Beijing. And with only nine months until the 2012 London Olympics, 'Queen Vic' is keen as ever to reassert her status on the international stage. The European Track Championships, held last weekend, afforded her the opportunity Photograph: Tom Jenkins

The GB performance director Dave Brailsford masterminded a 12-medal haul for British track cyclists in Beijing and he's at Pendleton's side on the first day of competition in Holland Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Pendleton's support staff also includes the Team GB psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters. His role is most acute with Pendleton, who confesses to being riddled with self-doubt. “The men couldn’t understand how I could be so successful and so insecure at the same time – because it doesn’t really exist in the same way in the male psyche ... It was difficult for them to fathom how desperately upset I get when I fail and how ­negative I am about my performances.” Photograph: Tom Jenkins

The GB sprint coach Jan Van Eijden is also fundamental to Pendleton's success, though relations between the two can be fraught as they seek perfection. Van Eijden is seen here explaining tactics using a video of Pendleton's performances Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Once her helmet is pulled on, Pendleton is considered a master at psyching out her opponents Photograph: Tom Jenkins

And so it proves on the first day of the competition, as she and team-mate Jess Varnish, left, win gold in the women's team sprint Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Day two brings its own problems for the 31-year-old Pendleton, whose focus is set on the women's individual sprint title Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Van Eijden is on hand to support Pendleton before the start of the qualifying flying lap to rank the sprinters before the knockout stages Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Pendleton tightens her shoe straps before facing Ljubow Shulika of Ukraine, one of the riders she and Varnish beat in the team sprint. Curiously, Pendleton also wears golf gloves on her hands Photograph: Tom Jenkins

The two play cat-and-mouse in the heat before starting their sprint Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Pendleton takes the lead in their first leg. But Shulika overtakes her on the final bend Photograph: Tom Jenkins

The Brit looks cool in the waiting pen before the start of the second leg ... Photograph: Tom Jenkins

She makes her final adjustments before heading out onto the track Photograph: Tom Jenkins

But despite her best efforts, Pendleton is beaten again by her more muscular opponent and is distraught at being knocked out before the medal stages. More seriously, even her qualification for the individual sprint at London 2012 remains unconfirmed ... Photograph: Tom Jenkins

As day three begins, Pendleton looks tired and pensive at breakfast at the team hotel before she goes to the arena for the women's keirin competition Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Has 'Queen Vic' got the mental strength to rebound from previous disppointments? Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Alongside team-mate Jess Varnish, Pendleton gets a push off as the racing begins Photograph: Tom Jenkins

In the second round she sprints away from her old rival Simona Krupeckaite of Lithuania, to whom she lost the previous day in the last sixteen of the women's sprint. This time Pendleton has the edge Photograph: Tom Jenkins

In the waiting pen before the final, Pendleton looks emotionless Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Her performance in the race is ruthless ... Pendleton waits calmly at the back of the field before sprinting to the front for the final two laps and winning gold Photograph: Tom Jenkins

From the disappointment of defeat on day two to the delirium of victory on day three - Pendleton's has endured another rollercoaster ride but at least it's ended with a smile Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Maybe it was the golf gloves what won it Photograph: Tom Jenkins

She wasn't the only Team GB rider with gold medal aspirations. Here, she's pictured waiting to see if team-mate Ed Clancy (right) has won the omnium event ... Photograph: Tom Jenkins

... he had, prompting further celebrations throughout the Team GB camp Photograph: Tom Jenkins