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Victoria Pendletons eyes welled with tears just talking about Anna Meares.So it was no surprise that two of track cyclings fiercest rivals were a sobbing mess as they embraced after Meares last ride at the Rio Olympics.For all the fierceness of their epic rivalry, a deep-seated respect also developed between two of track cyclings all-time greatest competitors.That rivalry came to end at the London Olympics, where the Great Britain ace won the keirin and then retired after losing to Meares in the sprint final.Pendleton is now a jumps jockey and is covering the cycling for BBC Radio.She sent Meares messages of support during the Olympics and the Australian publicly thanked Pendleton, saying she was one of the very few people who would truly know what she was feeling.We had the same career, the same experiences ... we really moved the sport on as a pairing and as a rivalry that really captured a lot of peoples imagination, Pendleton told AAP.I dont think I could really appreciate that until now.Just looking at her, she just didnt look like herself out there.You could see shes struggling and thats sad ... I would have really liked to see her win here - thats the honest truth.Well before that emotional hug, Pendletons eyes had welled up with emotion as she discussed Meares.And like everyone else at the Rio Velodrome, Pendleton has a sense that Meares below-par performance in the sprint means the end of an era.Pendleton felt for Meares, even when she won her historic bronze medal in the keirin.It makes me feel really sad, just to see how disappointed she was with the result in the keirin - on the podium, I just thought she wanted to be on the top, she said.Things dont always turn out the way you want.Im not going to judge a lifetime of success by a maybe less-than-perfect performance at the end.Pendleton hopes Meares can at least continue competing until the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.I would very much hope she continues to at least do that, Pendleton said.Her home crowd would be a much more fitting send-off for such a huge champion. .S. Open champion Justin Rose birdied the first hole with a blind shot h
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