Olympic champion Anna Meares down but not out after semi-final loss at Adelaide SuperDrome

CYCLING champion Anna Meares admits she has put herself deep into a hole in preparation for the Commonwealth Games — but can see light at the end of the tunnel.

CYCLING - Track sp Srint cycling - International Track Series at Adelaide SuperDrome. Anna Meares on the start line - racing for 3rd in the Women's Sprint final. Photo Sarah Reed.

“I’M ALWAYS trying to find more and sometimes to find more you’ve got to put yourself a little bit deeper into a hole and trust that you’ll come out of it.”

Anna Meares was as honest and to the point as always on the opening night of the ITS Adelaide on Wednesday.

Just minutes after losing to teammate Stephanie Morton in the semi-finals of the women’s sprint then fighting back from 0-1 down to beat Hong Kong’s Wai Sze Lee in three heats in the race for third, Meares explained how a heavy training phase now is designed to have her peaking in Glasgow next month.

Stephanie Morton powers to victory over Anna Meares in the women’s sprint at the Adelaide SuperDrome. Picture: Sarah Reed

Even though Meares expects to gradually get better each day with racing to continue until Sunday, she says “there won’t be any big hallelujah moments”.

“Sometimes when you’re in a hole it’s hard to see a light at all and a way out,” the Olympic champion in the women’s sprint said.

“It’s a really good test because when you’re physically fatigued, often your mind wants to follow suit.

“But it’s a really good training exercise to make your mind make your body want to work.

“Basically I want to set the race up because I know physically I’m under par for being competitive in some instances.

“That will change when the taper comes through to Glasgow so I’m trusting in (coach) Gary (West) and the program and am really happy I got some hard hit-outs.”

Meares appeared to be in animated discussion with West in-between heats throughout the night at the Adelaide SuperDrome.

“That was something we discussed before this — I wanted to under duress learn to communicate better and we worked really well tonight,” she said.

“It’s easy when you’re in good form and you’re winning, but it’s really hard when you’re not in good form and you’re not winning.

“So you’ve really got to collect yourself and keep yourself composed.”

The 30-year-old said she was looking for ways to stay hungry after reaching the highs of London in 2012.

“It’s a new experience for me since London being at the top and being hunted in the manner that being Olympic champion can bring,” she said.

“I’ve always been challenged along the way but there’s always been Kerrie (Meares), Vicky (Pendleton), always been some really big names ahead of me, with no disrespect to the women in the field at the moment.

“So it is a different psychological approach as well, to try to have the same approach as before when I was chasing Vicky and Kerrie.

“I’m finding little ways and working with the guys and the psychologist to find things that are intriguing enough and make me work that one per cent harder.”

Originally published as Olympic champion Anna Meares down but not out after semi-final loss at Adelaide SuperDrome