Emma Pooley’s chances of taking a rare world championship – Commonwealth Games time trial double depend on how she recovers from a stomach problem she has picked up in Delhi.
The 28 year old Briton fell ill in India and placed 34th in yesterday’s women’s road race. She was 49 seconds behind the winner Rochelle Gilmore, who won a 16-rider sprint to the line, but earlier played a part in helping her team mate Lizzie Armitstead.
Armitstead took the silver medal in the race, making it a successful day for the England team.
"I had a bit of an off day, I had been in bed all day feeling pretty sorry for myself,” Pooley told BBC Sport afterwards. “The heat wasn't such a problem, I had stomach cramps and didn't feel great. It was worth doing because I know how strong Lizzie is in the sprint. She did really well, I'm proud of her.”
Pooley has had a superb season, winning the world time trial championship, Flèche Wallonne, two stages plus the overall in the Tour de l’Aude, a stage plus the overall in the Giro del Trentino, the British road and time trial titles and the recent Grand Prix Plouay World Cup race.
Her world title means that she should normally be considered one of the big favourites in Wednesday's 29km time trial, but it depends on how she bounces back from the illness.
“Apparently it only lasts 24 hours so by then I should be fine,” she said. “I'll do my best, we'll see. I can't say what the result will be. You just have to ride as fast as you can, I hope to be feeling a bit better by then.”
Pooley is currently competing with the Cervélo Test Team, but will be part of the new Garmin-Cervélo squad in 2011.