 Nicole Cooke has succumbed to a recurring knee injury |
Welsh cyclist Nicole Cooke has been forced to withdraw from next month's World Cup race on home soil in Newport. A knee injury rules the Commonwealth Games champion out of the eighth leg of the World Cup on 20 August.
"The World Cup in Newport was one of my big target races this season and I am devastated to miss racing in front of my home crowd," Cooke said.
"I had hoped my knee would recover but the medical advice is that more recuperation time is needed."
Coming to British soil for the first time, the race will pitch Australia's current Olympic champion Sara Carrigan against World champion Judith Arndt of Germany and 2004 World Cup winner Oenone Wood of Australia.
With Cooke's withdrawal, the British top contenders will now be Rachel Heal (riding for the Great Britain team) and Emma Davis (team Vlaanderen).
Race organiser Alan Rushton said: "We are naturally very disappointed not to have Nicole with us in the race and send our best wishes for her speedy recovery."
In better news for Welsh cycling, Ross Sander and Matt Rowe have been included in the Great Britain team for the Junior World Road and Track Championships in Austria (7-14 August).
Sander and Rows both picked up medals at the European Junior Track Championships in Fiorenzuola, Italy, this month.
Under-23 riders Matt Brammier and Geraint Thomas have also been named in a team of six to take part in the Tour of Britain in early September.
MMIX
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