By Martin Gough

Pendleton won two golds at the World Track Championships in March

Track cyclist Victoria Pendleton, a favourite for gold in Beijing, says she is better prepared for her second Olympics than she was four years ago.

Pendleton, 28, considered retirement after coming ninth in the sprint in Athens but has won the world title in the event three times since then.

"The experience from Athens is going to be so valuable and I feel much better prepared for what to expect," she said.

"Of course there is pressure but more from myself than from anything else."

Pendleton was fairly new to elite track cycling at the 2004 Games, having concentrated on university studies until 2002.

"I went to Athens fairly unprepared. I'd never even thought about a Games of that scale before," she told BBC Sport

"I'd only been doing track cycling at that level for two years and it is a lot to deal with. It's a unique environment, very high stress but it's so rewarding."

"I've got a lot of support around me and my coaches seem to be happy so I'm happy with where I am. I need a bit of luck but a lot of hard work."

It's unfortunate I've only got one chance and it's quite a risky chance as well with it being a knockout competition Victoria Pendleton

Pendleton was speaking at an event to launch Girls4Gold, a mass recruitment drive for young athletic women by UK Sport and the English Institute of Sport.

She competed in the time trial as well as the sprint in Athens four years ago, while at the World Track Championships in March she also won the team sprint and came second in the keirin.

But the time trial has been removed from the Olympic programme to make way for the new BMX events, while the team sprint and keirin are not available to women.

BBC OLYMPICS BLOG People are aware of the sports but perhaps they don't know how to get involved or have the opportunity to get involved Victoria Pendleton on the Girls4Gold programme

"If there were more events I'd do them," Pendleton continued.

"It's unfortunate I've only got one chance and it's quite a risky chance as well with it being a knockout competition.

"It's disappointing that I've only got one to compete in but the new event, BMX, has taken its place and Shanaze Reade is a fantastic prospect for gold."