Norwich's Emma Pooley failed to add Commonwealth Games gold to her World Championships title after illness curtailed her bid at Delhi.

Pooley's quest was ultimately doomed from the outset as an untimely bout of 'Delhi belly', coupled with the unfavourable nature of the course, ensured she struggled home in ninth place.

Gold went to Canada's Tara Whitten while New Zealand's Linda Villumsen, who took bronze behind Pooley at the World Road Race Championships last month, upgraded to silver.

Pooley's teammate Julia Shaw, a 45-year-old time trial specialist, collected bronze and the Norfolk ace admitted she was never in the hunt in the Indian capital.

'I did a lot of work with the medical team and I finally got my appetite back on Tuesday,' said Pooley. 'I was feeling a bit dodgy for a few days after the road race and I didn't feel great today.

'The thing is I got selected ahead of other people who would very much like to have done it. As long as I could ride I felt I should do it because it would have been a real shame to pull out. But I think it would have been a bit of a miracle if I'd won today on that course.'

She added: 'Being in Delhi has been very similar to Beijing – people have had the opportunity to get used to all the paraphernalia that goes with a big event So I think it's been a very good experience for all the riders.'

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