Defending time trial champion confident of form ahead of Tuesday’s race but concedes that course doesn’t suit her
Great Britain’s Emma Pooley starts Tuesday’s World championship time trial with the honour of race number one, as the defending champion, and will leave the start house last. The 28-year-old Cambridge graduate is under no illusions as to her chances of retaining the rainbow jersey though, on an almost entirely flat course.
“I’m a bit disappointed that Denmark has no mountains, but it’s probably not your fault,” the Garmin-Cervélo rider joked to feltet.dk on the even of the race. “I’m looking forward to it, I come here as defending champion in the time trial, but I’m sure I won’t win it again.”
Although the Copenhagen course, with its lack of gradients and numerous corners and technical sections, does not suit the climbing power of Pooley, it is important for the Briton to get as good a placing as possible.
“It’s a very important race because it’s simultaneously important in the qualification for the Olympic Games in London next year,” she explained, “so I’ll do my best.”
The Great Britain team has announced that Commonwealth bronze medallist and Best British All Rounder Julia Shaw will be joining Pooley in Tuesday’s race.
Following Tuesday’s time trial, Pooley will line up as part of the Great Britain team in Saturday’s road race. That course is almost as flat as that of the time trial and so, although the breakaway specialist will undoubtedly be given free reign to pursue her usual attacking tactics, it is her Garmin-Cervélo teammate, and successor in the British champions jersey, that the seven-woman team will be racing for.
“We’re riding for Lizzie [Armitstead],” Pooley explained, “who is a really fast sprinter. We have a really good team, so I’m happy.”
Should the race come down to its expected bunch sprint Pooley will almost certainly not be involved but, if the 28-year-old has played her usual part, Armitstead will be in with a good chance of taking a medal.