Cooke to Reveal Plans for Building Beijing Team

Nicole Cooke, Britain's top woman road cyclist, will today give details of a new sponsorship agreement that is expected to enable her and other British women to prepare for the Beijing Olympics under the umbrella of British Cycling's Olympic Podium program, which has been responsible for the run of medals on the track in recent Games.

Cooke won the 2002 Commonwealth Games road race riding for Wales, has twice won the season-long World Cup, which rewards the most consistent one-day racer in women's cycling, and has taken two bronze medals and one silver in world road race championships. She will start one of the favorites for the road race in Beijing.

Thus far, the 24-year-old has prepared largely under her own steam riding for professional teams in Europe. Her new set-up should enable her to focus more on the Games and to build a team capable of supporting her in China.