 Cooke broke the forks of her bike after crashing into a van |
Commonwealth cycling champion Nicole Cooke has suffered another setback in the build-up to defending her crown in Melbourne later this month. Cooke, 22, crashed in a World Cup race in New Zealand, and was lucky to escape with just severe bruising and cuts.
"I was leading around one bend and there was a van parked on the course, right in front of me," said Cooke.
The Welsh cyclist had only returned to the saddle after breaking a collarbone in a track meeting in December.
She added: "My whole preparation for the Commonwealth Games has been blighted by crashes.
"I know the organisers try their best to remove vehicles from the course.
"But I just cannot believe that had this been a men's World Cup that vehicle would have been left without lots of marshals on the corner before it, identifying the hazard.
"For the men's races they have more marshals and spend more time clearing the course."
Cooke's return to fitness looked to be on track when she finished eight in the first World Cup race this season in Australia last week.
MMIX
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