Emma Pooley on Racing in the Rockies, Gravel Phobias and Coffee Cravings
Emma Pooley shares her experiences of racing a seven stage event through the Colorado Rockies
Emma Pooley is a British road cyclist from Wandsworth in south London. She has competed at two Olympic games, winning the silver medal in the Time Trial at Beijing in 2008 and taking part in the Road Race and Time Trial at London 2012. She was also instrumental in helping Nicole Cooke to win the Road Race gold medal in Beijing. Aside from the Olympics, Emma has a Time Trial gold medal from the 2010 UCI World Championships, won the Trofeo Alfredo Binda UCI World Cup in Italy in 2008 and the Tour de l’Aude in 2010.
Although born in London in October 1982, Emma was raised in Norfolk. She started off her athletic career as a keen cross-country runner, a pursuit she continued whilst studying for an engineering degree at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Although she won her sporting blue for cross-country, it was here that she first got into cycling, after suffering an injury which temporarily stopped her running.
Her professional career began in 2006 when, after finishing fourth at the 2005 National Road Championships, she was signed to ride for Team Fat Birds UK. 2007 saw her move on to Team Specialized Designs For Women where she stayed until 2009. She rode for Garmin – Cervélo until the team was wound up in 2011. 2012 saw her at AA Drink-Leontien.nl, before that team was also wound up. Most recently she has signed for the Swiss Bigla Cycling Team. She currently lives in near Zurich in Switzerland and, when not racing, is studying for a PhD in geotechnical engineering and occasionally competes in triathlons.
