By Sean Davies

Cooke is targeting Olympic glory this year

World Cup-holder Nicole Cooke has virtually abandoned hope of defending her title this year.

The series starts in Australia on 28 February but Cooke, still feeling the effects of a knee injury suffered in a crash last June, will not be there.

"I've had 10 weeks without training and that's left a massive hole in my preparation," she told BBC Sport.

"Given that, the Olympics and the World Championships are the target this year."

Cooke, who will return to her seasonal base in Italy on 16 February, added:

I've believed for a long time that I can be a medal contender at Athens Nicole Cooke

"It will be mid season before I'm back to form and by that time we will have had four or five World Cup races."

Cooke, 20, won an unprecedented four world titles as a junior including road racing, mountain biking and time trials.

Since making the switch to the professional ranks, she has already won Commonwealth Games gold and in 2003 became the youngest ever winner of the World Cup.

The cyclist, from Wick, is taking the ever-growing weight of expectation in her stride and holds a refreshing conviction in her abilities.

"The pressure isn't a bad thing for me," Cooke told BBC Sport. "I've got my own personal ambitions on what I want to achieve and that isn't dependent on public opinion.

"I've believed for a long time that I can be a medal contender at Athens, so it's the public who have to play catch-up and get in tune with what I've been thinking for five or six years.

"I rode the Olympic course last September and liked both the road race and time trial route a lot.

"They're both demanding courses, but if I focus my training I'll be OK."

Nicole is a tremendous medal prospect for 2004 Sir Steve Redgrave

Despite the obvious confidence, Cooke is delighted to have Olympic gold medallists Sir Steve Redgrave and Chris Boardman to turn to.

"They've been there to give advice and help me with training techniques," said Cooke.

"It's very good to be able to draw on the experience of such top performers as I try to turn myself into one of the best athletes in the world."

Five-times Olympic gold medallist Redgrave, who is acting as Cooke's mentor in the lead-up to Athens under the Team Visa support scheme, was keen to sing the Welsh girl's praises.

"This young athlete is Britain's top female cyclist and has already won herself a place in the history books," he said.

"Nicole is a tremendous medal prospect for 2004 and also the youngest member of Team Visa."