Nicole can secure her second World Cup title this weekend if neither Judith Arndt or Susanne Ljunskog can reduce her lead to below 150 points in the penultimate round.

Nicole goes into the Lowland Rotterdam Tour leading by 153 points, and with the usual 75 points for victory, 50 for 2nd place, 35 for third and so on.

However the final round 7 days later in Germany features double points so Arndt or Ljunskog could pick up 150 on the final day.

Nicole first won the World Cup series in 2003, but was unable to defend her title in 2004 and 2005 because of knee operations.

Nicole withdrew from the Expert Ladies Holland Tour after a crash on Stage 2 (Tuesday).

A Dutch rider in front of her went over on a downhill corner in the wet conditions causing Nicole to crash breaking her helmet. A dozen riders went over altogethe and Nicole left no where to go suffered cuts and bruising from top to bottom on her right side.

Nicole had finished safely in the front group on the first stage of the 6 day race.

Nicole has also extended her lead as number one rider in the UCI World rankings.

As of 29th August 2006 she has 995 points, that's 87 more than second place Susanne Ljunskog, and almost 400 more than third placed Edita Pucinskaite.

Nicole has extended her overall lead to 153 points and is on the brink of winning her second World Cup Series after finishing 3rd in Grand Prix Plouay.

Round 10 of 12 races it was won by Nicole Brändli.

After her recent successes and busy racing period during from the end of June through July Nicole has set up base in the SOuth of Switzerland for a short training camp.

She'll train in the mountains around St Moritz as she prepares for round 10 of the World Cup later this month at Plouay in France.