2016 Rio Olympics: Road cyclist Lucy Garner upbeat despite missing out on selection
Saturday 25 June 2016 22:46, UK
After being told you hadn't made the Olympics team, you'd probably be forgiven for escaping for a few days to find a small cave and not think about sport. And certainly not Brazil.
Lucy Garner is built of sterner stuff though and has revealed that not making the GB road cycling team for Rio this summer will actually fire her up and help in the long term.
Emma Pooley, Nikki Harris and London 2012 silver medallist Lizzie Armitstead are the chosen ones for Team GB on Brazilian tarmac.
The Sky Academy Sports Scholar reveals her thoughts on missing out on Rio as she prepares to jump in the saddle this weekend for the National Road Championships in Stockton ....
1. How do you feel about not being selected?
As an athlete you go through highs and lows. Of course it would have been amazing to represent Britain at the Olympics but I feel I've done everything I can.
The selectors know how I race so I couldn't have given anymore considering the type of rider I am. There's plenty more goals for me this season and I'm feeling motivated more than ever to prove myself in those races.
2. The Rio course is quite hilly. Do you think that was a factor in GB selection?
Yes definitely. Lizzie wants to win there so GB need the best girls suited for the course and who can help Lizzie as far as possible in the final.
I'm known for my sprinting, so as a sprinter I definitely struggle more with climbs than the rest.
3. What are your thoughts on the girls chosen?
We had three spots to fill. Of course one of those was taken by Lizzie and a lot of girls were fighting for the other two places. The female British cycling scene is at a very high level so it's definitely not an easy job to decide who goes.
Nikki has performed incredibly over the season already showing her passion to help Lizzie. Emma is coming back from her retirement and is known for her climbing.
4. How will you feel watching the Olympics on TV?
It won't be hard to watch. I love watching the Games and I think it would be amazing for Lizzie to bring home gold. I'm still young and my goal is still to reach an Olympics.
5. Does this make you even more determined for the Japan 2020 Games and other big events?
Definitely. Although it would have been amazing, this gives me four years to get stronger. I can only see this as a positive.
By then I will have gained a lot of experience and hopefully the course will be more suited to my abilities.
6. Has being a Sky Academy Sports Scholar helped you over the last four years?
Ever since I have left the junior ranks the Sky Scholarship programme has supported me through all the high and low times in my career.
I'm very grateful for their ongoing support and I hope I can finish this season with some good results and a ride at the World Championships in Qatar in October.
7. What's on the agenda for the next few months?
I still have a lot of races with Wiggle High5 so I'm looking forward to the second part of the season. The National Championship in Stockton this weekend in the UK is actually a really big goal of mine, even if I do have broken ribs!
I'm motivated, I feel in good shape and I hope to make the worlds team and be really competitive there.
8. How are those ribs doing?
It's been two weeks since the crash. I can't believe how quickly my recovery has been. As soon as I crashed my biggest doubt was having to miss races and have time off the bike. I did miss a big goal of mine, which was the Aviva Women's Tour, but I have managed to train, and train well.
I actually only had one day off the bike which really surprised me. I still have some pain when I move suddenly and some discomfort when I rest against them but overall I'm really happy with my recovery and I feel motivated more than ever to get a good result over the weekend.
The last two weeks have been hard but a good hard. I've trained extremely well to be on form ready for the Championship. I am really happy with my shape at the moment and feel really positive.
I hope to ride the course with Wiggle High5 on Saturday afternoon to get a feel of the course and the final laps. I can't wait to be back in the peloton again and fight for the national stripes.
WHAT'S COMING UP FOR OUR SCHOLARS
23-26 JUNE: Lucy Garner, National Road Cycling Champs, Stockton-on-Tees
24-26 JUNE: Holly Bradshaw, Jessica Judd at British Championships, Birmingham
25-26 JUNE: Quillan Isidore, British BMX Round 7 & 8, Burgess Park
29 JUNE: Siobhan O'Connor, Scottish Open Long Course
