Wandsworth-born cycling time trialist Emma Pooley could not disguise her disappointment after finishing sixth in the women’s time trial.


The 29-year-old, who was widely credited with helping Lizzie Armitstead win silver in the road race, was unable to win a place on the podium in last Wednesday’s time trial event.


The feeling of disappointment was compounded by Pooley’s aim of going one better than the silver medal she won in the same race in Beijing in 2008.


But after leading the time trial in its early stages, she dropped to fifth and finally sixth as US veteran Kristin Armstrong defended her title from Beijing.


Although the rolling course did not suit the lightly-built cyclist, the 2010 world time trial champion made no excuses for her defeat.


She said: “I’m not going to whinge about it, the course was the same for everybody.


“It’s more disappointing when you think you might have a chance of getting a medal.


“When you don’t, it’s the mistake of being an optimist, perhaps I should’ve been more pessimistic.”


The competition saw riders, released at one minute intervals, tackle a 45km course stretching through Kingston, Twickenham and Hampton in the quickest time.