Cooke is heading home to Wales to recover from a virus

Olympic and world champion cyclist Nicole Cooke has been forced to pull out of a race in Thuringen-Rundfahrt, Germany, because of illness.

The Welsh Vision 1 team founder felt unwell the week before the race.

Cooke's spokeswoman Gayle Howells said: "We are unsure as yet exactly what is wrong. Nicole had tests and is awaiting the results."

Cooke said: "I am flying home to try to recover from the virus. I need rest so that I can finish the season strongly."

Howells went on: "She is feeling unwell at the moment and trying to recover as much as possible."

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Cooke began the International Thuringen-Rundfahrt stage event but her condition worsened, forcing her to pull out and return home.

In June, Cooke added the British National road race title to her Olympic and world crowns in Abergavenny.

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