SHANAZE Reade's Olympic gold medal bid ended in frustrated and painful tears this morning.

Before Beijing, the 19-year-old Crewe BMX rider was considered Britain's most stitched-on gold medal chance, with a three-year unbeaten record to her name.

But she ended up just stitched-up, as a final-bend crash in the final left her cut and bruised as France's Anne-Caroline Chausson sprinted clear for gold.

Reade suffered a suspected broken hand, and – in the vernacular of her chosen sport – was certainly not 'stoked'.

"They say you learn the hard way and this is certainly very hard to take," she said.

"I don't think I could have done any more, I just wasn't good enough on the day.

"I'm 19 and there is more to come from me as an athlete, but at the moment I'm hurting – my back is sore and I think I have broken my hand.

"I put everything into this, I've fallen off and gotten back up, fallen off and gotten back up."

Reade crashed in three of her six races in Beijing and took another heavy tumble during her semi-final first run. But she got back on the bike to qualify in the quickest time.

She sprung out of the gates to take an early lead, but the canny Chausson took a better line on the first turn to establish a narrow advantage.

Reade was well clear of the field in silver, but attempted a passing move on the final bend, clipping Chausson's wheel but sending herself flying over the handlebars.

And she defended her aggressive 'all or nothing' tactics.

"I could have finished second without a problem, but why settle for silver?" she added.

"I don't train as hard as I've done for a silver. This is all about gold for me, it's gold or nothing.

"I've put my heart and soul into this, but I will bounce back stronger in London and show everyone what I'm made of."

Everything possible had been done to bring Reade to the startline in perfect condition.

An exact replica of the Beijing course was built at a cost of £30,000 in Manchester and top coach Grant White was drafted in from Australia for some intensive one-on-one tuition.

Chris Hoy, whose preferred 1km time trial was axed from the schedule to accommodate BMX, was full of praise for both the sport and Reade's gutsy show.

"I'm truly gutted for her," he said. "She's worked incredibly hard for this and deserves to be taking something home."

Injuries allowing, Reade will next week head to Poland for the track cycling European Championships – an under-23 event where Reade will continue her velodrome education.

Having won a team sprint world title in partnership with Olympic gold-medallist Victoria Pendleton back in March, she is considering splitting her time between the two disciplines to increase her medal chances.

LLOYDS TSB, proud first partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and supporter of Team GB on their journey to 2012. Visit www.LloydsTSB.com/London2012

Club-mates and friends burn midnight oil as Reade's Olympic dream ends in disappointment: Page 2