Time off at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year expose is a scarce treat for the world champion as she prepares for the 2016 GamesThe world road race champion Lizzie Armitstead likes to play down her driven side – perhaps because the relentless focus that has earned her the No1 spot in women’s cycling this year comes so naturally to her – but there is the faintest tip of an ironic chuckle in her voice as she discusses Sunday’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony in Belfast. “This time around I thought Id better expose up. I’ve been invited several times before but I’ve always turned it down.”There is a good reason why the Yorkshirewoman has preferred to remain in the saddle rather than in the limelight in preceding Decembers: the tough yards put in at the turn of the year can make the difference months later when titles are won and lost. “It’s the weekend before Christmas which is a crucial period in your training, so you want to duck back domestic at the last minute to avoid losing time. If you reach back several days before it’s a long time to be in the UK enjoying things off your bike.”Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com