Former World Time-Trial champion Emma Pooley has confirmed that she is return to cycling next year in a bid to win gold at next year’s Olympics in Rio.
Since her retirement after the Commonwealth Games in 2014 where she won silver in both the road race and time trial in Glasgow, Pooley has concentrated on triathlons. However, she feels she has a real chance in the time-trial in Rio due to its hilly course and has therefore decided to focus on cycling for part of next year.
The 29.8km time trial course in Rio includes the climb of Grumari which is 1.2km long at 7% average and with a max of 13%, and the less steep Grota Funda, 2.1km with an average gradient of 4.5%.
In a statement released today, Pooley said: “2016 is looming, and it’s an Olympic year. Because of the impressively hilly nature of the time trial course in Rio, this is a truly rare opportunity that I can’t resist. I’ve decided it’s worth a serious attempt at targeting that event.”
“I wouldn’t necessarily call it a “comeback” but 2016 will certainly be a somewhat different race programme from 2015 for me. In September I want to defend my title as world champion in long-distance duathlon at Powerman Zofingen. But from June to August, I’ll adapt my training to be more cycling-focused, and target time-trial specific adaptations.”
“If I can prove to both myself and the GB team selectors that I have the capacity to win the time trial in Rio, I’ll compete for selection for the Olympic team. There’s no guarantee of a given result in sport, obviously, but there are some incredibly clever people working at British Cycling and they have studied the challenges of the Olympic course.”
“I’m happy knowing I won’t get selected unless I really do have the potential to win. I have no desire to go to the Rio Games, and sacrifice some of the most exciting triathlon races of the season, just for the experience of another Olympics – I’m committed to aiming for gold.”
“I’m also so grateful for the encouragement and advice of some really good coaches and scientists at British Cycling, because that helps me to believe that I might be able to achieve that dream.”
“I think it’s important in sport and in life to keep an open mind. I didn’t expect to find myself ever aiming for Olympic selection again, but here I am with a wonderful opportunity on the horizon. The Olympic time trial course in Rio is an exciting prospect, but like always in sport, I have to follow the road to get there first. Roll on 2016!”
