nicole cooke has won almost At the Athens Olympics Cooke was one of the important to us than the results.
everything in world cycling, but when gold medal favourites even though her season
it comes to the olympics it is possible had been badly disrupted by injury and surgery. “We could practice our team racing and really
to be too successful for your own try to perfect it so that in Beijing we are able to
good. In road racing, racers take their turns at the put plan one into action or plan three – it is not a
front and then drift to the back of the group to question of wondering how that goes, but putting
Both in terms of trying to win too many races conserve energy in the slipstream of the rest. a practiced plan into action.”
through the season, rather than peaking for one
or two, but also in terms of marking herself out as All racers will be at the rear of the main group Cooke has had a quiet build up which is good
a danger to others. at some stage and breakaways are usually timed after knee surgery before Athens and a broken
more to take advantage of those moments than collarbone before the Melbourne Commonwealth
This year Cooke has turned to a new recipe, any other reason. Games.
starting the season more slowly as she aims to
peak in Beijing and take her rivals by surprise. In Athens, two riders broke while Cooke was “I am happy with where I am at. I have had a very
at the back in the leading group, she did most different approach to this season because in the
A former world number one, world cup winner, work to try to catch them up, hit a barrier and past I have tried to be in good form all the year
Commonwealth Games champion in 2002, there then got beaten on the sprint to finish fifth. round and win as many races as possible,” she
is no doubt she is someone that her rivals look admitted.
out for in a sport where teamwork is a vital
element and it is possible to target opponents. Fifth in the world is good, but not where Cooke “That is great, but it has meant that I have
is used to be. not been in really peak form for the world
So in the big races, the world championships and championship or the Olympics when they came
Olympics, Cooke has had to content herself with Having competed and won all round the world round.
second, third and fifth place finishes. in a sport which is certainly more popular in
other countries than it is here in Wales, Cooke “So at the end of last year I joined Halfords and
“Road racing is a very special sport, it is not like returned home for her last competitive race they are a really good sponsor because they want
100 metres where you run in your lane and stay before the Olympics in the Ras de Cymru. success in the world championships and Olympics
in your lane,” she explained. - which is exactly what I am going for this year.

“I have proven myself as one of the top women “i will do what i can to win a “It is just taking the pressure off in those early
racers – I have been world number one at the season races when normally there would be a
end of 2006, I have won the World Cup, the Tour gold, the support i get from the desire for results from the team and the sponsors,
de France Feminin, the Giro D’Italia. so it meant I could take it steady then and build
Welsh public is fantastic...” up now.
“Road cycling is a team element, the course
can be flat or hilly, maybe it rains which changes “It is really nice to be back in a familiar “There is still a lot of work to do for my
the conditions - the pacing, the tactics and the environment on roads that I know where I preparation but I am on the way up and raring to
strength of your teammates really are factors. will be able to have some good racing,” she go. Hopefully it will be a strategy that works.
explained, after competing along with fellow
“I have won all the major races and there is no British Olympic rider Emma Pooley. “The whole season is based around the Olympics
doubting the standard I am able to race at, but the and there has been a lot of research into the
special thing about the Olympics is that everyone “It has really set me up for my last month of climate conditions and the course.
wants to win it so there will be 60 or 70 riders all preparation so I am very happy to have taken
in top form on the day. part in the Ras de Cymru. “I was very fortunate to be able to go out there
in December and ride the course so I know what
“It is a once in a lifetime opportunity and that is “It is a great opportunity. The level of racing gear I was in on certain parts and that is very
where the champions come through.” here amongst the men is really high, I can be good as part of the preparation. We are trying to
in the home environment, get away from the leave no stone unturned.
The comment about everyone wanting to win in international spotlight but get some really good
the Olympics is not as obvious as it sounds. In racing in. “I will do what I can to win a gold, the support I
most cycling events team members are not trying get from the Welsh public is fantastic, so I will do
to win, but to help their principal rider win – “It gives me and my teammates a chance my best to bring back a medal or a gold medal.”
there is a big difference. to practice our teamwork and that is more

words Hamish Stuart pictures Steve Pope
sportingwales
issue3twothousand&eight
SW_Issue3.indd 8 30/7/08 11:10:51
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