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).

Despite a number of early moves, there were no succesful breakaways, and Nicole rode a steady race in the main bunch.

A group of around 40 arrived at the foot of the final climb together, with the race to be decided over the last few infamous kilometres up the Mur de Huy.

This climb features sections of up to 19% and Dutch woman Mirjam Melchers made the early move. Nicole was keen to respond, but happy to follow rather than lead until closer to the top.

Inside the last kilometre it came down to a battle between the World Cup Series winners of the last 2 years, and it was the 2003 champion who came out on top as Nicole opened the gap on Oenone Wood in the last 200 metres.

Just as when she won this race two years ago Nicole had absolutely nothing left as she crossed the line and needed time to recover as she slumped off her bike.

It was Nicole's first World Cup win of the season, but her 4th win out of 6 raceson the road in 2005..

"I'm really pleased, not just with the result, but with the way the race went and the team."

"I didn't have to do a lot before the finale and I would particularly like to thank my Japanese team mate, Miyoko Karami. She has helped me a lot in training and during the two races I've won in Belgium this week."

"There was a group of around forty when we reached the bottom of the 'Mur' in Huy which is where the race really began."

"It's a really tough climb, and I made sure I stayed at the front where I wouldn't get closed in or get pushed to the back.

"There was Melchers, Wood , some others, but we weren't going flat out. Then Melchers really started her effort and I just stayed behind, knowing that there was no need to go too soon ."

"I remember the climb from 2003 and it's easy to misjudge the distance at the finish. As we got to the two hairpins where the climb is steepest I started to go flat out."

"It was a bit of a battle because Oenone came past me, then I went past her, then she came back past me!"

"With 200m to go though I made my move and gave it absolutely everything to the line to make sure I won."