The national team drew criticism from Emma Pooley and Joanna Rowsell earlier this week when no riders were selected to compete in the elite women’s time trial on Tuesday.
Armitstead also heads a young and inexperienced team in the road race, which in Annie Last and Alice Barnes includes two mountain bikers.
“We’re in a transition period and there aren’t that many people to select from,” the Commonwealth Games champion said.
“I don’t know, the people who were complaining about selection, what their other suggestions would have been. I think we’ve got the best of what we’ve got at the moment.”
Great Britain defended it’s decision not to enter any women for the elite time trial, explaining: “we don’t believe we have a contender for a medal and we are obliged to use our resources where we have the best chance of success.”
“If you can tell me somebody that could benefit from the experience, I don’t think there is anyone,” Armitstead added. “I’ve stepped away from the scene at British Cycling, I race in Europe and I don’t see what’s going on in the domestic time trial scene, maybe there is a young girl that’s got potential.
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“I’m not going to criticise the selection because that’s the state of play, that’s what is there. But that is for a reason. There is no women’s road programme and that is the reason why there is nobody else to choose from.”
Richard Abraham is an award-winning writer, based in New Zealand. He has reported from major sporting events including the Tour de France and Olympic Games, and is also a part-time travel guide who has delivered luxury cycle tours and events across Europe. In 2019 he was awarded Writer of the Year at the PPA Awards.
