Norwich’s Emma Pooley clinches a Commonwealth Games silver medal
Norwich's Emma Pooley clinched silver in the Commonwealth Games road race on Thursday morning. Picture: Nicola Ianuale/Photo Ianuale - Credit: Archant
Norwich's Emma Pooley was denied a Commonwealth Games gold medal by six seconds in Thursday morning's road race event in Glasgow.
2008 Olympic time trial silver medalist Pooley, who announced she will quit elite cycling after Sunday's road race, looked to have triumphed until New Zealand's Linda Villumsen powered home to win in 42:25:46, with Pooley clocking 42:31:49 and Australia's Katrin Garfoot clinching bronze.
Pooley was delighted to finish her professional cycling career on the podium at another major championships.
'Obviously when you come through and you have the quickest time with one rider left on the course it is a little disappointing,' she said. 'But even if I had come last I would have been happy because I gave it my all. It was a tough course, particularly in the wet, and it was really challenging on the corners where I slipped out a bit on one occasion. Little errors like that all add up. Linda deserves the credit for a fantastic race. I'm not upset. She is an excellent time trialist and deserves the win.
'I don't really want to look back with regrets as you cannot re-race it. I'm thrilled to have a medal. especially with such fantastic support on the course.
'I'm really happy. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity. I am mostly gratfeul to the people who have supported me. I've raced professionally for seven or eight years and there have been a lot of people in that time who have supported me, not necessarily paid staff but volunteers. The crowd reaction was fantastic. Even the ones not waving England flags. That was really nice so I thank everyone on the course and it really helps. I hope we gave them something good to watch.
'I never expected to be a professional cyclist, you start off with friends who give you lifts to races and who help you sort out your bike.
'Then you move on to a team where everybody is a volunteer and they spend their time getting into races. So many people have helped me. I'm immensely grateful to all of them.'
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