The British Olympic Association (BOA) and British Cycling have today confirmed the four women’s road cyclists who will compete for Team GB in the road race at the London 2012 Olympic Games on the 29th July.
This brings the number of cyclists selected for Team GB to 22, with the selection of the men’s road race riders to be announced at a later date.
The cyclists selected for the women’s road race are:
- Lizzie Armitstead (age:23 born: Otley)
- Nicole Cooke (age: 29 born: Wick)
- Lucy Martin (age: 22 born Merseyside)
- Emma Pooley (age 29 born: Wandsworth)
- Emma Pooley and Lizzie Armistead have been selected to ride the time trial on the 1st August.
The addition of the road cyclists brings the total number of athletes officially selected to compete for Team GB at London 2012 to 266 across twenty-four sport disciplines: archery, athletics – marathon, badminton, boxing, canoe slalom, canoe sprint, cycling, diving, fencing, handball, hockey, modern pentathlon, rowing, sailing, shooting, swimming, synchronised swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon and weightlifting.
The athletes were formally nominated to the BOA for selection to Team GB by British Cycling, the National Governing Body for cycling in the UK.
Team GB Chef de Mission Andy Hunt said: “We are delighted to welcome four highly talented women’s road cyclists to Team GB for the London 2012 Olympic Games. Nicole Cooke’s inspirational victory on that rainy day in Beijing at the last Olympics was one of the outstanding moments of the Games and served as an important catalyst to kick-start Team GB’s record breaking medal haul. With the support of many thousands of Team GB fans lining the route on July 29th, I am sure this group of riders will be aiming to deliver another memorable performance.”
British Cycling Performance Director Dave Brailsford said: “Narrowing down the women’s road team from six riders to four wasn’t an easy decision for the selectors to make, but we believe that the four riders we have selected will give us the best opportunity of winning the race. The team is made up of the defending Olympic road race champion Nicole Cooke and Olympic Time Trial silver medallist Emma Pooley. They are joined by Olympic debutantes Lizzie Armitstead and Lucy Martin. Emma Pooley and Lizzie Armistead will ride the time trial on the 1st August.”
Nicole Cooke said: "I am honoured to be representing Team GB at the 2012 Olympic Games and doing everything I can to deliver a gold medal for our team. We have a set of riders with real potential and I am looking forward to playing my part in delivering that gold."
Lucy Martin said: "I’m really excited to have been selected for my first Olympic Games, it’s a massive honour and I am so proud to be part of Team GB at a home Games! I’m prepared to give everything I’ve got and just cannot wait to race now in front of a home crowd around the streets of London.”
Emma Pooley said: “I’m really pleased to be selected for the London 2012 Olympic Games, it’s a great honour. I’m looking forward to concentrating on my training now to ensure that I am in the best shape possible for the 29th July and 1st August.”
