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Emma Pooley to retire from cycling after Commonwealth Games Emma Pooley to retire from cycling after Commonwealth Games
(34 minutes later)
Emma Pooley, the cyclist who won silver for Great Britain at the Beijing Olympics, will retire from the sport after competing in the road race at the Commonwealth Games on Sunday, claiming Glasgow will be the “perfect opportunity” to bow out on a high.Emma Pooley, the cyclist who won silver for Great Britain at the Beijing Olympics, will retire from the sport after competing in the road race at the Commonwealth Games on Sunday, claiming Glasgow will be the “perfect opportunity” to bow out on a high.
Pooley, 31, who won the world time-trial title in 2010 and took three stages of this year’s women’s Giro d’Italia, did not compete for Britain in 2013 in order to complete a PhD in geotechnical engineering.Pooley, 31, who won the world time-trial title in 2010 and took three stages of this year’s women’s Giro d’Italia, did not compete for Britain in 2013 in order to complete a PhD in geotechnical engineering.
She has been with Belgium’s Lotto-Belisol team at the Giro but will ride for England on the final day of the Commonwealths alongside Lizzie Armitstead – as well as at Thursday’s road time-trial – in her last race before turning her attention to running and the triathlon. She was with Belgium’s Lotto-Belisol team at the Giro but will ride for England on the final day of the Commonwealths alongside Lizzie Armitstead – as well as in Thursday’s road time-trial – in her last race before turning her attention to athletics and the triathlon.
“You have to go sometime. I considered retiring after the London Olympics, but I didn’t feel like I was ready. I’ve been mulling it over and came to the conclusion that the Commonwealth Games is the perfect opportunity. It’s a big event, it’s almost at home and I want to go out properly, when I’ve planned it and have no regrets,” Pooley told Rouleur magazine. “You have to go sometime. I considered retiring after the London Olympics but I didn’t feel like I was ready. I’ve been mulling it over and came to the conclusion that the Commonwealth Games is the perfect opportunity. It’s a big event, it’s almost at home and I want to go out properly, when I’ve planned it, and have no regrets,” Pooley told Rouleur magazine.
The London-born athlete, who is based in Zurich, won the Lausanne Marathon last year and has often been outspoken about the lack of gender equality in cycling, campaigning for the return of a female Tour de France to run alongside the men’s event. The London-born Pooley, who is based in Zurich and ran and won the Lausanne Marathon last year, has often been outspoken about the lack of gender equality in cycling, campaigning for the return of a female Tour de France to run alongside the men’s event.
She has the chance to end her cycling career in front of a partisan home crowd this weekend, representing England one last time on the bike in a race that starts and finishes at Glasgow Green and takes in the surrounding countryside of North Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire. She now has the chance to end her cycling career in front of a partisan crowd this weekend, representing England one last time on the bike in a race that starts and finishes at Glasgow Green and takes in the surrounding countryside of North Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire.
“Looking back, there are so many highlights. I’m super lucky to have been a professional cyclist, but there are other things I dream of doing as well. I’m 31, which is a good age for endurance sports and I’m sure I can do better in triathlon if I focus on it. I’m so excited about running through mountains,” said Pooley. “Looking back, there are so many highlights. I’m super lucky to have been a professional cyclist, but there are other things I dream of doing as well. I’m 31, which is a good age for endurance sports, and I’m sure I can do better in triathlon if I focus on it. I’m so excited about running through mountains,” said Pooley.
“I’m very lucky in that I can make that decision [to retire]. For a lot of people the choice is made for them, either by injury or team dynamics. It’s a positive choice.“I’m very lucky in that I can make that decision [to retire]. For a lot of people the choice is made for them, either by injury or team dynamics. It’s a positive choice.
“I could never have done what I’ve done in the sport without the support of British Cycling. When I got a result they noticed it and supported me to get to the world championships and the Olympics, they built me a bike and took me wind tunnel testing. I’m hugely grateful that I’ve got to work with such talented people. “I could never have done what I’ve done in the sport without the support of British Cycling. When I got a result they noticed it and supported me to get to the world championships and the Olympics, they built me a bike and took me wind-tunnel testing. I’m hugely grateful that I’ve got to work with such talented people.
“After the first Giro stage win, there was a little bit of me that thought about carrying on until Rio 2016, but the decision was made. Maybe I had a good Giro because the weight was off my shoulders. Maybe it was the last-chance saloon.” Pooley, who started riding when she was 22, won the British time-trial championship in Monmouthshire earlier this summer and was lauded by the British Cycling president, Bob Howden. “After the first Giro stage win there was a little bit of me that thought about carrying on until Rio 2016, but the decision was made. Maybe I had a good Giro because the weight was off my shoulders. Maybe it was the last-chance saloon.” Pooley, who started riding when she was 22, won the British time-trial championship in Monmouthshire this summer and was lauded by the British Cycling president, Bob Howden.
“Emma has been a tremendous ambassador for cycling both on and off the bike and for women’s sport in general, never far from the action wherever she applied her undoubted talents,” said Howden. “Emma has been a tremendous ambassador for cycling both on and off the bike and for women’s sport in general, never far from the action wherever she applied her undoubted talents,” he said.
“At British Cycling she will be long remembered as a rider who gave her all for her team and she retires with the thanks and best wishes of British Cycling and our members.”“At British Cycling she will be long remembered as a rider who gave her all for her team and she retires with the thanks and best wishes of British Cycling and our members.”