RBA Exclusive: Getting To Know Nicole Cooke
This past summer, I was watching the Olympics courtesy of the BBC. I remembered watching bits of the women’s road race thinking that as the rain began to fall, this went from being merely another race to a real test of endurance both between the best riders in the world, but also within one’s self to keep going despite everything (and I mean everything) going on with the monsoon-like rains and the brutal climbs. Flashing to the finish, the victor was Nicole Cooke, longtime British national champion, and now Olympic champion. When Nicole crossed the line as the winner, she cut loose with exuberant yells and arm pumping. Her clear outpouring of emotion seemed so genuine and fitting in this era where race winners give a quick nod and disappear into their phalanx of handlers. Seriously, she just came through a typhoon, fended off the most talented cyclists in the world and took the Olympic Gold.
For Britain, this was equally huge as she took the first gold medal of many for Team GB in Beijing, and her victory flashed all over the UK. If that weren’t enough, Nicole finished out the season with another absolutely stellar victory winning the UCI Road World Championships. As far as my research shows, Nicole is the first road rider ever to win the Olympic/World double. However, lest our readers think that Nicole is coming out of nowhere to do this, this is hardly the case. Her palmares stretch back to 1999, winning the British National Road Race, the first of nine victories there, along with a UCI Junior Road Championship in 2000, three more UCI Junior Championships in 2001 (Road, TT, XC Mtb), fifth in the road race at Athens, two UCI World Cup Championships (2003, 2006) and No. 1 ranking in 2006. In all, Nicole is truly the real deal.
I caught up with Nicole in Switzerland where she was working with her new team, Vision 1 Racing, and deep in training to defend her world title.
Road Bike Action: As a junior, you were very strong across almost all the cycling disciplines (cyclocross, mountain, road and TT). What tipped you towards focusing on road racing?
Nicole Cooke: I was always in love with road racing, but while my brother and I were going up the age categories, we kept on doing all the elements of cycling to keep our skills up and maximize the opportunities for learning and becoming good all-around riders. My brother was more into cyclocross, whereas I loved the thrill of riding in a bunch and the tactical element of the racing.
Cooke captures her first senior world title
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
RBA: Any mentors from your early pro career you would like to recognize?
NC: People gave me the inspiration to aim for the top when I was young and just starting out in cycling. Sally Hodge, who was a member of my cycling club Cardiff Ajax CC, was World Points Race Champion in 1988, and Louise Jones, who was Commonwealth Gold Medalist in 1990. To meet champions like Sally and Louise, and chat about training up the same hills or on the same track gave me that confidence to think that if they could do it, then so could I!
RBA: For a while, injuries seemed to be a real pain (pun intended), and you mentioned in an interview that you seriously considered stopping racing. At that time, had you stopped, what do you think you might have done?
NC: It is hard to say, because after taking a few days without even thinking about cycling during the rehabilitation time and asking myself whether I wanted to stop, I realized that there was still that desire burning inside me to follow my Olympic journey to the end. I wanted to see whether it really was possible to become Olympic champion, and so I never got around to considering life after racing. What this time did make me realize was that it was important to keep other interests outside of cycling to make sure that I had a good balance in life.
RBA: What is your favorite race?
NC: I like most races. Sometimes a course with crowds is amazing, and sometimes it is the tactical development of how a race is won which makes a race so impressive. One race in particular which will always bring back good memories was the GP San Francisco in 2003 and 2004. I loved the course with the Wall, and I loved the noise of the crowds. I managed to make the most of the couple of days I was there to also take in a little of the city and would love to go back there with or without the bike.
Cooke on her way to Olympic glory
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
RBA: Clips of your victory in Beijing flashed all over the world. To the best of your recollection, what were you thinking right after you crossed the line?
NC: ‘YES!!’ Lots of thoughts came flooding in the moments after I crossed the line, and it was all those people who had helped me, without expecting anything in return, that I thought of most. They were all part of my Olympic success, and it was a very special feeling.
RBA: Can you compare winning the Worlds as a junior to your win this past year?
NC: Winning in Plouay (2000) was such a wonderful moment for me. I had a poster of the race up on the wall for over a year before the event, and I wanted to win so much, to get a rainbow jersey, which is so significant in cycling. My parents and brother were there to support me in the race, and it really was a family effort to make it all happen. My father and I visited the course in 1999, and this preparation all helped when it came to the race day. In Varese (2008), this was more an unbelievable moment, because it was not something I was certain about. All I did going into that race was try to enjoy the Worlds and take the opportunity if it came as I had already achieved my season and career goal seven weeks earlier.
RBA: What differences have you noticed in your life being an Olympic and World champion?
NC: My personal life has not changed that much. I am still Nicole with my family and friends playing a big role in my life. Publicly, I realized the impact a sport can have, like how many people have taken inspiration from my riding, and this is very special. I would like to pass on a good example and philosophy through my sport, because it is a unique way to communicate, and there are many lessons from this sport which can be used in all areas of life, everything from respect for your rivals and rules, to the hard work which does pay off, especially in a sport like cycling.
RBA: Any secret training vices we should know about? (Ben and Jerry’s?)
NC: My vice would be enjoying being out on the bike too much. I love exploring and taking in as much of the surrounding area as possible, which could lead to some epic rides!
Cooke with her new Vision 1 teammates
(Photo: Simon Keitch)
RBA: What should we know about your new team, Vision 1 Racing?
NC: We are working with a small squad of young riders aiming to help them develop their potential in cycling, rather than taking riders who are already winning and just keep on winning. There is a real challenge in working with riders from the start and seeing exactly where their talents lie and helping them get there. No one had won both the Olympic and Worlds in the same season, so I had to think in new and innovative ways to try and achieve a historic first, and this is what we want to continue with Vision 1 Racing. Cycling in Britain was desperate ten years ago. There were no championships for girls, and it took a lot of campaigning just to try and get equality. When I turned pro in 2002, I was the only British rider in Europe and had to learn a lot of things through my own mistakes. Now, I am in a position where I have achieved my dreams in cycling, and my next challenge is to help others try and achieve theirs!
RBA: Any thoughts or ideas about young women looking to get into riding?
NC: If you are starting riding, I would suggest trying a mixture of cycling to build up your all-around skills and find out which element of the sport you really enjoy most-like mixing some mountain bike rides with road rides. Then, try to incorporate cycling into your everyday routine, like commuting to school or work or just doing short trips on the bike. And most of all, don’t be afraid to aim big!
Follow Nicole’s Journey
Nicole is going full speed, juggling her duties as an ambassador of the sport with her riding, with her new Charitable Trust. This article only scratches the surface of the story of this compelling athlete. To learn more about Nicole, check out the following websites: www.vision1racing.com, and www.nicolecooke.com.
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