Emma Pooley to return to cycling for Rio 2016 Olympics
Olympic silver medallist Emma Pooley is set to return to the British cycling team for the Rio Olympics in 2016, having retired from the sport in 2014.
The former world champion will target the time trial and may also support Lizzie Armitstead in the road race.
Pooley, 33, retired from cycling after winning two silver medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games to concentrate on triathlon and other endurance events.
"This is a truly rare opportunity that I can't resist," she said.
Pooley won silver in the time trial at the 2008 Beijing Olympics before finishing sixth in the event at London 2012, where she also helped Armitstead win a silver medal in the road race.
The 29.8km time trial course in Rio features the 1.2km, 7% average gradient Grumari climb and the "impressively hilly nature" of the terrain persuaded Pooley, renowned for her climbing abilities, to come out of retirement and target a gold medal.
"I've decided it's worth a serious attempt at targeting that event," she said in a statement on Wednesday.
"If I can prove to both myself and the GB team selectors that I have the capacity to win the time trial in Rio, I'll compete for selection for the Olympic team - I'm happy knowing I won't get selected unless I really do have the potential to win.
"I have no desire to go to the Rio Games, and sacrifice some of the most exciting triathlon races of the season, just for the experience of another Olympics - I'm committed to aiming for gold."
Olympic silver medallist Emma Pooley is set to return to the British cycling team for the Rio Olympics in 2016, having retired from the sport in 2014.
The former world champion will target the time trial and may also support Lizzie Armitstead in the road race.
Pooley, 33, retired from cycling after winning two silver medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games to concentrate on triathlon and other endurance events.
"This is a truly rare opportunity that I can't resist," she said.
Pooley won silver in the time trial at the 2008 Beijing Olympics before finishing sixth in the event at London 2012, where she also helped Armitstead win a silver medal in the road race.
The 29.8km time trial course in Rio features the 1.2km, 7% average gradient Grumari climb and the "impressively hilly nature" of the terrain persuaded Pooley, renowned for her climbing abilities, to come out of retirement and target a gold medal.
"I've decided it's worth a serious attempt at targeting that event," she said in a statement on Wednesday.
"If I can prove to both myself and the GB team selectors that I have the capacity to win the time trial in Rio, I'll compete for selection for the Olympic team - I'm happy knowing I won't get selected unless I really do have the potential to win.
"I have no desire to go to the Rio Games, and sacrifice some of the most exciting triathlon races of the season, just for the experience of another Olympics - I'm committed to aiming for gold."