 Cooke overcame a knee injury to claim the crown |
World number one Nicole Cooke regained her British Women's Road Race Championship title, claiming the crown for the fourth time in five years.In the men's event, Roger Hammond beat off Jeremy Hunt and Jamie Alberts to lift the crown as Wales' Julian Winn withdrew with cramp.
Wale's Cooke triumphed over a 74-mile course at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, overcoming a knee injury sustained in a crash in Canada at the beginning of the month.
In a repeat of last year's one-two, Cooke left her nearest rival Rachel Heal behind with 200m to go and finished eight seconds clear. Vicky Pincombe finished third, 40 seconds behind Cooke.
Cooke was delighted with her result, and did not feel that her repeated successes at the event had lessened the joy.
 I wasn't feeling good at the start, but got there for the important part of the race |
"It means a lot, each time I've won it's been a different circumstance," Cooke told BBC Wales Sport.
"I had 10 days off my bike after the accident earlier this month and pain in my knee.
"I really wanted to get fit to defend the title on home soil.
"I wasn't feeling good at the start, but got there for the important part of the race."
MMIX
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