Enter Your Questions to Nicole Cooke below in the Comments Section.
The best questions will be picked and proposed to Nicole Cooke while at the Wiggle Stand (E22b) on Saturday 10th Oct at 11am.
Here are Nicole Cooke’s replies to your questions.
Cycle 09: Questions with Nicole Cooke
1. ‘harriet’ says
Q. Why haven’t you been successful in 2009 like you have been in 2008? I did see you at the British Champs and there is seemed to me, you would be able to defend your title in Mendrisio.
A. From outside, 2009 looks a little bit poor, but in fact I won 5 races in including the British Champs and it was not so bad… 2008 was an extraordinary year and at the end of the season I realised I had won everything there was to win in my sport and it looked like the challenge would be to repeat it. But I felt like I wanted something new, not just a repeat, and I had the idea it would be a good thing to have a professional team in Great Britain to help all the young girls come through and follow their dreams in road racing without the difficulties I had at the beginning of my professional career as the lone British rider in Europe.
A few sponsors, including Wiggle, believed it was worth supporting the concept and with some very motivated riders we began the season. I knew there would be some starting up problems, like with some team members who only wanted the status of being in Vision 1, and not contribute their best to the racing. Although I was able to sort the problems out, it drained me and I did not have the same energy left to put into my training and racing like in the years before, Vision 1 was under financed all season and I had to do the hard decision to stop this project.
Once again, I have had to sign a contract in a professional team again for next year but still to today I think it was worth it to try and go a new way, when you see the result of the world champs this year you realise that this idea was not wrong. We need a better system for road racing in Great Britain that helps the young girls. Only the ones who try things can fail, the ones who only sit at home and complain can’t make many mistakes!
2. ‘Dubber’ says
Q. What’s on your ipod Nicole?
A. Mainly when I’m by a computer I’ll listen to Red Dragon FM over the Internet to keep up to date with new music, but right now there’s quite an upbeat mixture I’m listening to: Tinchy Stryder, Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas, Agnes, Flo rider…
3. ‘Blender’ says
Q. Nicole, what are your plans for 2010 & what motivates you?
A. I will be meeting with my team for 2010 this coming week and then I will know how my racing programme will shape up. My target will be to go for the World Champs and try to get that rainbow jersey back! I’m motivated to try and get the best from myself but underlying this is a great love for cycling, just being out riding and enjoying the feeling of cycling under my own power is great!
4. ‘Nicola’ says
Q. I love cycling, what advice would you give to us girls who are keen to about getting involved in racing?
A. If possible you should try and get a group of girls together of a similar ability so that as you all develop your camaraderie will help you get through those difficult moments and you can also share in your successes together. Try to join a club that caters for girls/ladies and also speak to those with more experience to try and learn as much as possible. The best thing to do is not be afraid of trying new things and pushing the limits from time to time!
5. ‘Tristain’ says
Q. What was your most memorable experience this year?
A. The British Champs was a fantastic experience when I remember the atmosphere, the build up in the days before the event especially because it was close to ‘home’ in Abergavenny, all my family and friends who were there and then the actual race itself and the winning feeling having dealt with the climbing and all round strength of Emma Pooley and the sprinting power of Lizzie Armitstead. The crowd really got involved and it was a wonderful day all round.
6. ‘Simsy’ says Via Facebook
Q. Ask Nicole & the ladies how they deal with knee pain?
A. You should try and see a good doctor with sports experience first to get a full analysis of what could be causing the problem. Then, when you know how to treat it, try to do your best to take care with other things you can do yourself like stretching, a short warm up and cool down as you begin rides and keeping your knees warm. Also make sure that your shoes and pedal set up gives your feet a position as close to your natural ‘standing’ position as possible so that stresses around the knee are reduced as much as possible.
