Nicole Cooke won Team GB’s first medal in Beijing with a nail biting sprint finish in the women’s road race. On the day she returned to the UK Sportsister spoke to her about women’s cycling and being part of such a successful Olympic team.
You won Team GB’s first gold medal, has it all sunk in?
I think the winning the race part has yes. Because as a cyclist you think afterwards about what you did, if it was right tactically, and what I could have done better. So that’s sunk in. But I don’t think being Olympic champion has, no.
Being the first member of Team GB to win a medal, did you feel the team spirit lift from this?
It’s hard to say because up until I raced I was just very concentrated on that and I probably wasn’t able to experience the change (between how it was before and after winning the medal) as it was only the second day.
But I know in the cycling team there was such a good team spirit and so much support that I think it didn’t really matter that it was the first one.
I think regardless, we would have all been supporting everyone, and just been so happy in the success that we had together.
In the actual race when was the actual moment that you realised that you had won gold?
Well, I thought my chances went up considerably when we went over the top of the last climb and we were a breakaway and everyone was working, that’s when I thought it was possible. But in terms of being sure it was only centimeters before crossing the line.
Things can happen so fast in cycling and I was leading out from about 200-300m to go, and when you do that yes you are in front and you have the psychological advantage but if someone is in your slip stream and they wait and time it just right, they only need to win by a centimeter. So you never know until you have crossed the line.
Was this the ideal scenario for you being such a strong sprinter?
Well, the course is what is. In road race it changes so much; we have mountains, cobbles, short climbs, flat races…you have to be prepared for everything.
I was very lucky to have been able to see the course back in December and having seen the course then I knew exactly what I had to prepare for.
So in the months leading up to the Beijing road race I was training hill finishes just like that, I was training 12km climbs as similar to the one in Beijing as I could find. And I think it is that kind of preparation that gave me the qualities to be able to put in the killer sprint.
How excited have your family and friends been throughout this whole experience?
Well I have spoken to them a lot. I think for people close to an athlete having to watch races is a very nerve-racking experience. I know what it’s like having watched my brother racing. So I think for them to have to go through three and a half hours of that, but then to get the win at the end, they must have gone absolutely crazy after that! I could feel that and sense it when speaking to them, so I am really looking forward to seeing them tonight.
You will be welcomed in your home town in an open top bus parade, how excited about this are you?
I’m very excited about this. I’m very excited about going home, I haven’t seen my family and friends in a long time, so it will be great to see all the people who have supported me so much.
What’s next for you then in terms of racing?
My season keeps going until the world champs at the end of September, so I am going for that. I had four or five days break after the racing had finished, but now I have started the next block of training.
I planned my season to try and be in top form for August and September which is the most important part of the year for me this season. I am very motivated to do it.
And the Commonwealth Games and next Olympic Games?
Yes, sure, they are my long term targets, but right now I am just focusing on the block in front of me.
In Britain race organisers encounter a lot of problems trying to put on road races, and a further two were lost this year. Do you think your high profile win in this event will help organisers get the assistance they need from local governments to hold these events?
Well I think it will highlight road racing to a lot more people. But I think if you really want people to understand the sport then it has to come from a much bigger level than just the authorities.
It’s about getting children riding to school, having cycling as a mode of transport and as a part of their lives. So that cycling isn’t just a strange thing that they see on television, it is a part of community life.
And so then having a road race or any kind of cycling event in the area will bring a lot of excitement to the community.
How do you feel about young girls having watched you win your Gold and then being inspired to take up cycling?
I think that’s great, it’s really nice. I think that sport is something that can go beyond boundaries, it doesn’t have barriers. It’s not masculine or feminine; it’s not from one country. It’s something that regardless of what country you are from, what background you are from sport is there for everyone.
I think inspiring others is one of the bonuses of sport, that’s something very special. I would love to see more cyclists out there.
And what would you say to a young girl who was thinking of taking up cycling? Why do you love it so much?
I love it because of the sense of freedom you have when you are riding. It gets you close to the countryside and you can go wherever you want, it is totally up to you. There are no barriers there, and I think that being able to determine your own destiny in that way is what makes cycling special.
Louise Hudson, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
More cycling on Sportsister:
Olympics: Emma Pooley wins silver in the women’s individual road race
Sportsister meets Rebecca Romero
Olympics: Nicole Cooke Wins Britains first Gold
Cycling: Nicole Cooke wins ninth title
Sportsister meets Victoria Pendleton, World Champion Cyclist
