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Women's road race team confirmed

5th July 2012, 03:11pm

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Nicole Cooke: Named in GB team

Nicole Cooke: Named in GB team

Defending champion Nicole Cooke and Lizzie Armitstead have been included in Great Britain's confirmed women's road team for the London Olympic Games.

Cooke and Armitstead are joined in the four-rider team for the 140-kilometres July 29 road race, which finishes on The Mall, by Emma Pooley and Lucy Martin.

Sharon Laws and Katie Colclough missed out on selection after being named in the initial six-rider group last week, the British Olympic Association have announced.

It will be intriguing to see how British Cycling, including women's road coach Chris Newton, manage the team.

Armitstead was nominated leader at last September's World Championships in Copenhagen, but hit out at Cooke for riding "for herself".

Games debutant Armitstead is adamant the squabble is in the past.

"Our problem was in Copenhagen, not about London. It's behind us," she said.

"It's a totally different race and a totally different strategy that we'll have. For me they're separate things.

"I'm confident whoever's selected, whatever team combination there is that we'll work together."

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."

Cooke, who disputed Armitstead's comments, insists she will ride for the benefit of the team.

The 29-year-old Welshwoman: "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."

In addition to competing in the road race, Armitstead and Pooley, silver medallist in the time-trial in Beijing, are set to ride against the clock at Hampton Court on August 1.

The women's squad are set to meet this weekend before riding in the British Championships road race in Ampleforth, North Yorkshire.

Team: Nicole Cooke, Lizzie Armitstead, Emma Pooley, Lucy Martin.

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