COOKE THIRD ON STAGE, FINISHES FOURTH OVERALL

The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to The Pick. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Nicole Cooke finished third in the final stage of the Tour de l?Aude.
The Welsh rider got away with yellow jersey holder Susanne Ljungskog of Sweden and the two German riders, Judith Arndt and Trixi Worrack on the 71-kilometre stage that started and finished in Limoux.
Arndt won the sprint from Ljungskog. The quartet finished 59 seconds ahead of 11 that contained Cooke?s Great Britain team-mate Sharon Laws.
It was an aggressive end to the ten-day stage race in the south of France.
Cooke lifted herself to fourth place overall, with Ljungskog defending her lead of more than three minutes. Ardnt finished second with Worrack taking the final place on the podium.
The final day reshuffle saw Laws slip down to sixth place, but it meant there were two British riders in the top 10 of one of the most prestigious women?s stage races ? something that was unthinkable only a couple of years ago.
Cooke won the first road stage of the race, Laws took a second place, but the aim of catapulting one of them onto the podium on the final two hilly days fell narrowly short.
As preparation for the Olympic Games in August, it was perfect, though and Cooke and the British girls will head to next month?s Grande Boucle stage race in fine form and confident mood.
Emma Pooley, who is likely to join Cooke and Laws in the three-strong British team for the road race in Beijing, didn?t have a great week and missed the time cut on Friday.
Team manager Julian Winn was not slow to sing the praises of the other members of the Great Britain team ? Jessica Allen, Catherine Hare and Leda Cox ? who grew into their roles as domestiques and got through a tremendous amount of work for the team.
TOUR DE L?AUDE STAGE 9 RESULTS
1. Judith Arndt (Ger) High Road 71km in 1-54-56
2. Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Menkini-Selle Italia
3. Nicole Cooke (GB) Great Britain
4. Trixi Worrack (Ger) Nurnberger all same time
7. Sharon Laws (GB) Great Britain at 59sec
22. Jessica Allen (GB) Great Britain at 3-41
40. Catherine Hare (GB) Great Britain at 4-24
57. Leda Cox (GB) Great Britain at 9-06
68. Emma Davies-Jones (GB) Swift Racing at 14-25
69. Helen Wyman (GB) Swift Racing at 14-25
FINAL OVERALL CLASSIFICATION
1. Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Menkini-Selle Italia in 23-55-05
2. Judith Arndt (Ger) High Road at 3-35
3. Trixi Worrack (Ger) Nurnberger at 4-02
4. Nicole Cooke (GB) Great Britain at 4-23
5. Irene Van Den Broek (Ned) AA Drink at 4-57
6. Sharon Laws (GB) Great Britain at 5-11
36. Jessica Allen (GB) Great Britain at 46-52
55. Helen Wyman (GB) Swift Racing at 1-06-30
62. Leda Cox (GB) Great Britain at 1-15-38
67. Catherine Hare (GB) Great Britain at 1-29-32
81. Emma Davies-Jones (GB) Swift Racing at 2-12-30
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.
-
-
Durango to host Sepp Kuss homecoming celebration on October 19
The La Vuelta winner will be welcomed back to his hometown with a good old-fashioned American jubilee on October 19
By Kristin Jenny Published
-
‘The stress just doesn’t stop’ - 25-year-old British pro to retire
Charlie Quarterman cites contract uncertainty, health issues, and physical demands of elite competition as reasoning behind retirement decision
By Tom Thewlis Published