Pooley takes silver in time trial

British cyclist Emma Pooley won time trial silver with a stunning ride, missing out on gold by 24 seconds.

Pooley, 25, led for much of the race before Kristin Armstrong of the US posted a late time of 34 minutes 51.72 seconds to win gold.

It was Team GB's second cycling medal in Beijing after Nicole Cooke won the road race on Sunday.

Cooke herself was well off the pace, finishing in 15th place, with Karin Thurig of Switzerland taking bronze.

Pooley went out fifth and set a blistering pace, eventually recording a time of 35:16 over the hilly 23.5 kilometre time-trial course.

And it looked as if Pooley, who played a key role in helping Cooke claim gold at the weekend, had done enough to win gold.

Her time of 20:46 seconds at the 10.8km time check was unbeaten, with eventual winner Armstrong the only rider to come close by recording 20:50.

But Armstrong managed to make up the remaining time during the descent and came home just over 24 seconds ahead of Pooley to claim gold.

"In the road race, I was doing my job," said Pooley.

"Today, I just concentrated on riding as fast as I could, being absolutely smooth and enjoying myself without anyone to push me off."

She added: "It helps being positive-nervous, because you've been waiting four years for this.

Courtesy BBC