Cooke dug deep to win the first road race of the season

The Safi-Pasta Zara rider dug deep in the last 100m of the 110km Trofeo Citta di Rosignano in Italy to hold off Nicole Br�ndli on the finish line.

"Going round the final curve, Brandli and I both made our move at the same time," Cooke told her official website.

"I got a gap on Brandli and held it to the line. It was a very hard finish but a great way to end an incredible race."

After a disappointing 2004 season by her standards it was a welcome return to form for Cooke, who repeated her 2002 success in this race.

Cooke now stays in Italy for the Primavera Rosa, the opening World Cup race of the season that begins on Saturday 19 March.