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Tuesday, 22 November 2005 |
Nicole Cooke lacks support for Commonwealth Games bid
Nicole Cooke fears the lack of another female Welsh rider could spoil
her chances at the Commonwealth Games and the 22-year-old will have no
one to share the tactical burden with in the road race, which relies
far more on teamwork than any other discipline.
"I do stand a great chance having got the silver at the World Championships in September," Nicole Cooke said.
"But the Commonwealths will leave me slightly exposed as I won't have the team-mates other countries will have."
Nicole Cooke was able to claim the World silver medal in Madrid thanks
to the efforts of her Great Britain team-mates. Rachel Heal and
Charlotte Goldsmith pulled Nicole Cooke through the last two circuits,
allowing her to conserve energy for the last 500m sprint.
However, Nicole Cooke, a four-time junior world champion, will instead
have the English pair working against her in Melbourne as she alone
flies the Welsh flag in the women's events and world cycling powers
Australia will also field a large team and be able to take turns to
attack Nicole Cooke.
But the lack of support should be less of an issue in the time trial
and points races where the emphasis is on the individual rider's
ability.
Nicole Cooke took gold in the road race in the last Games in Manchester
despite a lack of support, while finishing sixth in the points race and
10th in the time trial but she puts that down to the hilly nature of
the Manchester course that allowed the better riders to pull clear of
the pack.
"I don't think the course in Melbourne will be as demanding and that
means the team influence could be all the more," Nicole Cooke added.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 22 November 2005 )
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