COOKE FACTFILE DOB: 12/10/1978 Nationality: Australia Team: FDJeux.com Best Tour: 2003 - Green jersey winner

Winning upset the established order of Erik Zabel, Robbie McEwen and Stuart O'Grady, who had been tipped to battle it out for the points prize.

As it was only McEwen came close to catching him, their tussle coming down to the final stage in Paris.

Since then he has not quite been the same force and was only the Tour's 12th best points rider last year.

But the Australian has been struggling with a gluten allergy, which may account for that slight slide in form.

To date this season, his best results have been sixth in the Gent-Wevelgem and fourth on a stage of his home event, the Tour Down Under.

Cooke, though, enjoyed one of the most spectacular green jersey battles in recent Tour history in 2003.

The Australian finished stage 20 second, to McEwen's third (by the narrowest of margins), thus finishing with 216 points to his rival's 214.

It seemed only fair for Cooke, who also won stage two, and was there or thereabouts for the sprints throughout the race.

McEwen tried to appeal against Cooke for his strong-arm tactics but that was rejected.

It remains to be seen whether he can recapture that form in the 2005 Tour.