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'Bike Train'

Nicole took advantage of a brief spell at home in Wales to encourage youngsters to cycle to school.

She joined pupils from a Pennard primary School in Swansea on their new 'bike train'.

The scheme is one of a number of Swansea Council’s road safety initiatives that encourage children to travel to school using alternative means of transport as well as getting a healthy and active start to the day.

“I was delighted to take part in the cycle train," enthused Nicole. "It was amazing to see so many children take part, especially as it was raining quite badly."

“I used to cycle to school when I was younger. The journey was about six miles each way. It was great for helping me train and has helped with the success I have achieved in cycling so far."

“All children should be encouraged to take up sports and activities to help keep them fit and healthy. This initiative is perfect for addressing both health and road safety issues.”

Nicole's presence insured not only the participation of plenty of children, but also widesrpead TV, Radio and Newspaper coverage for the scheme.

Fleche Wallone

Nicole has won the women's Fleche Wallonne for the second time.

She finished ahead of Oenone Wood (Nurnberger), Judith Arndt (Nurnberger) and Mirjam Melchers (Buitenpoort).

Just as when she won the race two years ago Nicole had absolutely nothing left as she crossed the line at the top of the ultra steep Mur de Huy.

It's Nicole's first World Cup win of the season, but she has now won 4 races out of 6 on the road this season.

Report, Results, Nicole's View Pictures

GP Wallonie

Nicole has won her third race of the season. She outsprinted two Australian rivals to take the GP Wallonie.

The race was 8 laps of a fairly flat 11k circuit and despite plenty of attacks finished in a bunch sprint.

The 90km circuit around Dottignies was covered in 2 hours 7 minutes and 32 seconds at an average speed of 42.15 kph, with Katie Brown (Team Australia) 2nd and Oenone Wood (Nurnberger) 3rd.

"It was just a case of sitting in today and then getting the sprint right," said Nicole.

"I took Wood's wheel when she hit the front and then came round her in the final 100m, so obviously I'm very happy."

Nicole's next race is the Fleche Wallone Race on Wednesday, round five of the World Cup Series.

April Index

26/04/05
20/04/05
18/04/05
17/04/05
11/04/05
03/04/05
02/04/05

'BikeTrain'
Fleche Wallone
Theft
GP Wallonie
Gran Fondo
Flanders
TV Show

Theft

On the night of Monday 18th April, while Nicole and her team was staying at the hotel 'Premier Classe 1' in Roncq, just inside the French border near Roubaix, the SAFI team camper was broken into.

One of the items stolen from the luggage hold was Nicole's bag containing cycling memorabilia that she was planning to take back to Britain with her.

The bag was a green 'speedo' kit bag containing cycling jerseys won during 2004 amoung them those from the Giro di Toscana, team SAFI press packs and information from 2004 and 2005, souvenirs and memorabilia from Nicole's first races of the season in Cyprus, Italy and Belgium, and Italian cycling magazines reporting on Nicole.

If you have any information please contact us info@nicolecooke.com in full confidence. We would like to arrange the return of these items. They are of far greater personal significance rather than any financial value.

Gran Fondo

In between World Cup rounds on the road Nicole took the opportunity to fit in some off roading.

She took part in the Granfondo del Montello a mass particpation Mountain Bike Race. Nicole was of course faster than the weekend racers, but got just as muddy!

There was also a good turn out of elite riders including former World, Olympic and World Cup MTB Champion Paola Pezzo.

Ready for a wet afternoon Nicole and (on the right with red helmet) former Olympic Champion Paola Pezzo

The end of a muddy afternoon

"How did I see?"

Flanders Frustration

Nicole's first Tour of Flanders started brightly but finished in frustration.

She led for much of the race after an early break, but was then part of a large group sent the wrong way before the finish.

Mirjam Melchers won the race to take the lead in the World Cup Series.

Result, Nicole's View, Photo

TV Show

The evening before the Tour of Flanders Nicole appeared on the Bike Show on Canale Italia.

The programme had been recorded at the studios in Padova with Marco Bui and Giovanni Battaglin earlier in the week for broadcast at 1900 Italian time on Saturday evening.