Britain’s Pooley just pipped to bronze in road time trial
BRITISH cyclist Emma Pooley missed out on a medal by an agonising nine seconds in yesterday’s women’s individual time trial at the Road World Championships in Holland.
Pooley, who won the title in 2010 and helped AA Drink-Leontien.nl win bronze in Sunday’s team time trial, finished fourth in Limburg.
Fellow Briton Wendy Houvenaghel ended 14th as German Judith Arndt, 36, bowed out of the sport by successfully defending her gold medal in 32 minutes, 26.46 seconds.
Pooley was second only to American Evelyn Stevens when she crossed the finish line in 33:15.79, but the two remaining riders out on the 24.3km route, Arndt and New Zealand’s Linda Villumsen, posted better times to nudge the heartbroken south London native off the podium.
Essex’s Alex Dowsett will be Britain’s sole entrant in the men’s time trial today, with Bradley Wiggins absent and Chris Froome a late withdrawal.
Dowsett, who won silver at the Commonwealth Games two years ago, missed part of this season with a broken elbow but showed signs of a return to form on Sunday when he helped Team Sky finish ninth in the team time trial.
The 23-year-old, who will tackle the 45km route on Wiggins’ London 2012 Olympic-winning bike, said: “I don’t know how it’s going to go. I’ll just get ride as best as I can.”