Nicole took bronze in the World Championship Road Race. She was in a break of three after animating the race on the climbs of the final lap, but the failure of Nicole Brändli to work saw 12 chasers come back for a group of fifteen to contest a final sprint.

Having made several big efforts to close down moves Nicole couldn't stop Marianne Vos of the Netherlands taking Gold, with Trixi Worrack of Germany Silver.

Nicole finished fifth in the Time Trial in which her Univega team mate Karin Thürig took the silver medal.

Another Univega rider, Priska Doppman was one second quicker over the 26.1km course than Nicole. American Kristin Armstrong won gold.

Nicole has arrived in Salzburg for the World Championships. She rides the Time Trial on Wednesday 20th September and the Road Race on Saturday 23rd.

As well as news here of course Eurosport will be featuring Nicole Cooke heavily in the build up to their live coverage of the TT on Wednesday when they are on air from 10.45am.

They recently attended the final round of the World Cup and the interview and footage will also feature heavily in the lead up to the Road Race which is on live from 8.15am on Saturday.

Nicole finished 5th in Rund um die Nürnberger Altstadt, the final round of the World Cup, before receveiving her series winner's Trophy. Univega-Raleigh-Lifeforce also finished top of the team standings.

Nicole also received her prize for winning the TUI Cup a series comprising the main races in Germany over the season Thüringen.

Nicole is the World Cup Champion for the second time. She finished fourth in the Lowland Rotterdam Tour, enough to ensure she can't be overtaken in the final round in Germany next weekend.