Following a superb year where she marked herself out as one of the very top women in international cycling, Emma Pooley’s achievements have been marked by a win at the annual British Sports Awards in London. The 28 year old Cervélo Test Team rider was presented with the Sports Journalists’ Association Committee Award, receiving the trophy from former world swimming champion Mark Foster.
Pooley became world time trial champion in September, capping off a superb season where she also won La Flèche Wallonne, the Tour de l’Aude, the Giro del Trentino, the GP de Plouay and the British road race and time trial titles.
She was already a very successful rider, but clearly stepped up another level in 2010.
“Cycling is really a team sport so to be recognised as an individual like this is unexpected,” she told the crowd there. “Winning the world title has been the highlight of my career so far.
“Women's cycling doesn't get that much press coverage in general so I'm delighted to have been recognised by the Sports Journalists Association in winning this award.”
Pooley has travelled back to her base in Zurich, where she is doing a PhD in geotechnical engineering. After Christmas she will head to Perth in prepare for the 2011 season, her first with the new Garmin-Cervélo women’s team.
Full details of the team are yet to be announced, but it is thought that many of those who raced alongside her this year will be part of the new setup.