18/08/2004 28th OLYMPIC GAMES ATHENS 2004 - Nicole Cooke chiude al 19. posto. Oro alla Van Moorsel Così la prova a cronometro dei Giochi di Atene Mercoledì 18 agosto - The fifteenth starter of 25 Nicole set off strongly on the 24 kilometre coastal course. Her movement on the bike showed how much effort she was putting in and she was receiving constant encourgament from Team Manager John Herety shouting from the car behind her. However by the turn it was already clear that she wasn't going to be amongst the fastest times of the day, with Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel clearly the fastest. Despite crashing in Sunday's road race the defending champion was well ahead at the 12km check, and finshed a substantial 25" ahead of Dede Demet-Barry who herself posted an impressive time on the tough course. 1 Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel (Netherlands) 31.11 2 Deirdre Demet-Barry (USA) 0.25 3 Karin Thuerig (Switzerland) 0.44 4 Christine Thorburn (USA) 1.04 5 Lada Kozlikova (Czech Republic) 6 Oenone Wood (Australia) 1.05 7 Joane Somarriba Arrola (Spain) 1.14 8 Zoulfia Zabirova (Russia) 1.19 9 Priska Doppmann (Switzerland) 1.27 10 Edita Pucinskaite (Lithuania) 1.31 11 Judith Arndt (Germany) 1.35 12 Olga Slyusareva (Russia) 1.39 13 Mirjam Melchers (Netherlands) 1.50 14 Jeannie Longo Ciprelli (France) 1.54 15 Trixi Worrack (Germany) 16 Lyne Bessette (Canada) 2.13 17 Susan Palmer-Komar (Canada) 2.15 18 Dori Ruano Sanchon (Spain) 2.18 19 Nicole Cooke (Great Britain) 2.34 20 Edwige Pitel (France) 2.50 21 Tatiana Guderzo (Italy) 3.03 22 Anita Valen (Norway) 3.17 23 Rasa Polikeviciute (Lithuania) 3.23 24 Nataliya Kachalka (Ukraine) 3.49 25 Susanne Ljungskog (Sweden) 4.05 Martedì 17 agosto - The Women's and Men's Time Trial is run over the same course around the Coast to the South of Athens. The start and finish is at the Vouliagmeni Olympic centre with the competitors riding 12km to the Agia Marina and then back again. The women ride this course once for a total distance of 24 km (the men do 48km) with the first of 25 riders going off at 1300 local time (1100 BST). The riders start at 90 second intervals riding individually against the clock. It's not a technical course. It's largely flat and straight and will suit the most powerful riders, with cross winds a factor. Riders like Judith Arndt and others who showed well in the Olympic Road Race will again be contenders, though there will be a question mark over defending champion Leontien Zjilaard-Van Moorsel. She crashed on Sunday and blacked out briefly. Despite headaches and bruising though she will ride. Russia's Zoulfia Zabirova is another favoured to do well and is the last rider off at 1336 local time. Nicole will be the fifteenth rider off at 21 minutes past 1 (1121 BST). After the disappointment of the Road Race she is optimistic of doing well, though realistic too. "I know that the Road Race was a better opportunity for me, but as always I will be starting with the aim of finishing first." "I was tired after the Road Race, but I've had two days to recover." "I have a new bike built specifically for this event, and I've been staying in an appartment right alongside this course so I know exactly what to expect." Start time No. Name (Country) 13:00:00 25 Tatiana Guderzo (Italy) 13:01:30 24 Nataliya Kachalka (Ukraine) 13:03:00 23 Dori Ruano Sanchon (Spain) 13:04:30 22 Trixi Worrack (Germany) 13:06:00 21 Rasa Polikeviciute (Lithuania) 13:07:30 20 Susanne Ljungskog (Sweden) 13:09:00 19 Jeannie Longo Ciprelli (France) 13:10:30 18 Christine Thorburn (USA) 13:12:00 17 Susan Palmer-Komar (Canada) 13:13:30 16 Priska Doppmann (Switzerland) 13:15:00 15 Lada Kozlikova (Czech Republic) 13:16:30 14 Anita Valen (Norway) 13:18:00 13 Olga Slyusareva (Russia) 13:19:30 12 Mirjam Melchers (Netherlands) 13:21:00 11 Nicole Cooke (Great Britain) 13:22:30 10 Deirdre Demet-Barry (USA) 13:24:00 9 Oenone Wood (Australia) 13:25:30 8 Edita Pucinskaite (Lithuania) 13:27:00 7 Lyne Bessette (Canada) 13:28:30 6 Edwige Pitel (France) 13:30:00 5 Joane Somarriba Arrola (Spain) 13:31:30 4 Karin Thuerig (Switzerland) 13:33:00 3 Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel (Netherlands) 13:34:30 2 Judith Arndt (Germany) 13:36:00 1 Zoulfia Zabirova (Russia) La gallese Nicole Cooke