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In a repeat of May’s opening round of the UCI Para Road World Cup, Carol Cooke claimed gold and silver at round two in the Netherlands. 

Cooke prevailed in the time trial by more than thirty seconds over Jill Walsh (USA), before her US rival turned the tables to win the road race. The pair are now tied on the UCI Rankings. 

“I’m very happy with how I rode both races at this second World Cup,” said Cooke, who revealed she is starting to reap the benefits of long hours in the saddle in a new time trial racing position. “For the first time I felt really comfortable in that position and it is obviously helping as I won by a fairly good margin. 

“I still have some work to do on my road race, however, the dynamics of the race were different because we were racing alongside the men. So that will change at the World Championships when we are riding our own race.” 

Cooke will now head to the Australian Institute of Sport European Training Centre (ETC) in Italy for targeted individual sessions, before the dual reigning and seven-time World champion ​joins the entire Australian team ahead of the Para Road World Championships which begin August 2.

“I’m looking forward to training at the ETC, it will help me acclimatise to the heat in Italy and help me focus solely on what I am here to do,” Cooke added. “But I think one of the most important things is that I will be doing some specific sprint training in the next four weeks.  My last two World Cup Road Races have come down to the final sprint and as history has shown Jill has got me on both of those.”

“I’m looking forward to Worlds and looking forward to being back with the team. Obviously, my goal is to hold on to both my World Championship jerseys and I am feeling very fit and confident that I can do it.”

By Cycling Australia
Posted: 19/07/2018