Pooley, who came runner up to the United States' Kristin Armstrong in the road time trial at Beijing 2008, will compete for the final time in the Commonwealth Games road race on Sunday.

"You have to go sometime," she told Rouleur magazine.

"I considered retiring after the London [20120] Olympics, but I didn't feel like I was ready.

"I've been mulling it over, and came to the conclusion that the Commonwealth Games is the perfect opportunity - it's a big event, it's almost at home, and I want to go out properly, when I've planned it and have no regrets."

Pooley admitted she briefly considered a tilt at Rio 2016 Olympic glory after winning three stages in the Giro Rosa earlier this month, where she topped the mountains classification.

But she ultimately stuck to her retirement plan.

She added: "I'm very lucky in that I can make that decision.

"For a lot of people, the choice is made for them, either by injury or team dynamics.

"It's a positive choice."

Emma Pooley won time trial gold at the UCI Road World Championships in Melbourne in 2010 ©Getty Images



The 31-year-old finished sixth in the London 2012 road time trial, and 40th in the road race, having won the world time trial title in Melbourne two years earlier.

She will ride as part of the English team hoping to propel Lizzie Armitstead to gold in the Glasgow road race.

Pooley, the 2014 British Cycling National Time Trial champion, who serves on the International Cycling Union's Women's Commission, has said she will now focus on her triathlon and running career.

She won the Lausanne Marathon in October.

British Cycling president Bob Howden said: "At British Cycling she will be long remembered as a rider who gave her all for her team and she retires with the thanks and best wishes of British Cycling and our members."