Nicole Cooke's glittering career in pictures

Nicole Cooke, on her first racing bike aged nine, near her home in south Wales

Later to become Britain's most successful female road racer - Nicole Cooke, on her first bike aged nine, near her home in south Wales

Nicole Cooke was competing for honours in junior mountain-biking

By her mid-teens Cooke was competing for honours in junior mountain biking

In 2002 Nicole Cooke took road racing gold for Wales at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester

And in 2002, Cooke took road racing gold for Wales at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester

Nicole Cooke poses at Southerndown ahead of the 2004 Athens Olympics, where she finished fifth

Nicole Cooke poses at Southerndown near her home in the Vale of Glamorgan before the 2004 Athens Olympics, where she finished fifth

Nicole Cooke fulfils her Olympic ambitions with a stunning gold in the women's Beijing road race

Four years later in Beijing, Cooke fulfils her Olympic ambitions and starts Great Britain's gold rush with a stunning win in the women's road race

Nicole Cooke flies the Welsh flag after winning the 2008 women's world road racing title in Varese, Italy

Cooke flies the Welsh flag after following up Olympic glory by winning the 2008 women's world road racing title in Varese, Italy

Nicole Cooke also played her part at the 2012 London Olympics, helping support Lizzie Armistead (second left) win silver in the women's road race

Cooke also played her part at the 2012 London Olympics, helping support Lizzie Armistead (second left) win silver in the women's road race