Britain’s Emma Pooley and Sharon Laws helped their pro cycling team, AA Drink-Leontien.nl, to a bronze medal in the inaugural team time trial event at the road race world championships in the Netherlands.
The 38km women’s race was won by Specialized, as Amber Neven of the USA led her team to win with a time of 46 minutes 31 seconds. Orica, including Judith Arndt and Linda Villumsen were 24 seconds behind, inn second place.
Pooley, who won a silver medal in Beijing in the time trial, is now contemplating retirement, aged 29.
This will be the last time that the team will compete as the they are disbanding for financial reasons.
Pooley told the BBC: “I think we wanted to show something as a team that we can do a really good result.
“It’s a bit sad the team is coming to an end. This is the kind of thing team sponsors get into team sponsoring for and it’s brilliant to be on a World Championships podium, which doesn’t usually happen.
“But I think we made a point, which is good.”
The riders will now turn their attention to riding for their countries as the event continues until September 23.
Olympic silver medallist Lizzie Armitstead will be riding alongside Katie Colclough, Nicole Cooke, Nikki Harris, Laws and Pooley at the weekend in the road race. While tomorrow, Wendy Houvenaghel and Pooley will go in the individual time trial event.
Louise Hudson, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
