Categories: La Vie VelominatusLook ProRacingThe HardmenTradition

Portrait of a Hardwoman: Nicole Cooke

Nicole Cooke on the Kapelmuur, Rule #37 violation notwithstanding.

Cycling is hard; I’m not leaking any trade secrets with that statement, but it feels good to say it anyway. No Cyclist avoids suffering, but of those who venture into our world, there are some who seek to limit it while others choose to embrace it. Then we have a handful of characters who consider playing Whack-a-Mole with the Man with the Hammer to be good sport, particularly when playing the part of Mole.

In the current climate, it’s impossible not to consider the impact doping has on our sport. I, for one, have happily watched professional bike racing and delighted in the spectacle for close to thirty years, aware to varying degrees that doping is part and parcel of that spectacle I enjoy so much. In the last decade, I’ve gone so far as to assume most – if not all – riders are doping; a regrettable situation but one which has done little to temper my enthusiasm for the sport. After all, when all the riders are doing it, then surely what we’re watching is a level playing field of willing participants who understand how the game is played. Cheaters cheating cheaters hardly seems like cheating.

It’s all beautifully romantic so long as all the riders are doping. This is not the case, however; there are those who are racing clean against dopers. These riders are truly being cheated out of a livelihood by a culture which not only turns a blind eye to cheating, but who ostracize those who don’t. These riders who refuse to dope have few voices and last week, the sport lost one of the most forward of these with the retirement of Nicole Cooke.

Nicole has been a force in Women’s Cycling since turning Pro in 2002. A powerful rouleur, she excelled in every terrain and in any race format, but was nigh unbeatable in uphill finishes, taking a total of three La Fléche Wallonne Féminine titles, each of which required such a large laying of The V that it brought her to collapse. I was aware of her as much as anyone can be with the state of the coverage of Women’s Cycling, but she became one of my favorite riders after reading a piece in Rouleur about my favorite hub manufacturer, Royce. In the article, Royce’s Cliff Polton described being at a trade show when a young girl better described as a ball of loosely-contained energy bounded up on his booth and started asking about bottom bracket axles and wondering aloud if he could help her achieve her goal of becoming the wolds most dominant female cyclist.

Given what I understand of her personality, I get the feeling it was more like executing a plan than achieving a goal.

Cooke raced at the top of her sport for thirteen years; she scaled the heights of achievement with wins in every major race on the calendar including the Ronde van Vlaanderen voor Vrouwen, La Fleche, the Giro d’Italia Femminile and Grand Boucle (women’s Tour de France), the Olympic Road Race, and the World Championship Road Race. What’s more, she accomplished it while remaining staunchly anti-doping to the point that she faced sackings for refusing doping products.

Anyone who is a fan of Cycling should read Nicole’s retirement statement – I could never do it justice here. My personal hopes for the Pharmstrong Legacy is that it yields a a blood letting in the UCI and that the energy it spends on covering up its own corruption goes instead into promoting Women’s Cycling.

I’m sad to see Nicole go. Yet, for a rider who thrived in the hardest conditions and who unyieldingly stuck to her principles, I find it very fitting that the final two wins of her career came in Stages V of the Giro Femminile and Energiewacht Tour, respectively. Bravo, Nicole.

Here is the finale of her last Giro stage win:

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

Next Reverence: Campagnolo Tools »

Previous « The Selection Equation

View Comments

frank says:

Jan 23 2013 at 7:08 am

@Deakus

@Chris Adams

The sooner the cycling inequality is addressed the better for the sport.

Shape up or ship out for the decision makers that dont support the girls.

Lets face it their out there winning Gold medals and would spank the best of us in competition.

Yes but saying

"The sooner the cycling inequality is addressed the better for the sport.

Shape up or ship out for the decision makers that dont support the girls."

Is part of the problem. It is not something that can be left to others to sort out. It is down to every single person to make it happen. Whether that be signing petition, refusing to hold a license and making it know why, or as simple as encouraging as many women to attend your club runs as you can. You/Me/We all cannot leave it to the powers that be to correct things because.

To adopt a quote originally from Charles F Aked

"It has been said that for evil men to accomplish their purpose it is only necessary that good men should do nothing"

I am not saying anyone is actually evil here.....simply that those that sit by and expect others to ring the changes are actually part of the problem.....the same maxim applies to those that did not not dope but said nothing.....and many other situations across life the world and the universe.

The comments are general rather than directed specifically @Chris Adams

@Chris Adams

@Deakus Agreed!

It starts in the home and encouraging the kids (was referring to the dude at the UCI in particular).

I strongly feel the women have been racing very well and putting on a show well worth watching by men and women alike; as promoters of the sport, it seems to me the burden lies with the UCI at the moment.

McQuaid needs to go, the sooner the better.
frank says:

Jan 23 2013 at 7:12 am

@Deakus

@ChrisO

This is a very interesting article - it's a scientific paper so not an easy read but basically discusses the principles of anti-doping and the consequences of allowing medically supervised doping, with the conclusion it might not be such a bad idea.

Some very interesting examples given.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1851967/

This was a really interesting read....if nothing else to demonstrate what Bad Medecine is and how unsubstantiated, circumstantial evidence, with a very obvious lack of evidential data can lead to so called "common sense" conclusions being written.

Far from being a balanced medical paper this starts with a premice and then seeks to prove it by selectively picking anecdotes and avoiding some of the glaringly obvious negative evidence. Very little mention is given to athletes who have died from doping and in fact in parts the paper contradicts itself....especially when it starts to talk about anti-doping driving the behaviour underground.

It is written to sound like a medical paper, published in a medical context giving an impression of being a quality piece of research, without actually being so. I had a quick scan through the bibliography and mostly found articles, papers and scripts in a similar vein equally lacking in rigour or any type of peer review.

Interesting to read @ChrisO but I would have to say largely biased drivel.....some valid points are made, but they remain unchallenged or tested so can be given no creadence....this is more like a group of 3 people who have decided they want to state a case and carried on and done so...

I had to check the link to make sure this wasn't an old Velominati article - it sounded so much like the kind of thing one of us (namely me) would write!
frank says:

Jan 23 2013 at 7:17 am

@Yannersan

It's sad that she felt the need to retire at such a relatively young age, I hope she doesn't make a comeback when it is too late.

I remember watching the Beijing road race and the amount of ground she lost after loosing her line in the final bend, to lay down The V and win the sprint in horrendous conditions was just brilliant. A true hardwoman's finish.

Her rivalry with Armistead probably hurt both of them; who would select either knowing that they may not work for the team and think primarily of themselves?

Didn't she talk about that being a calculated risk? She hung back and went wide, giving anyone who crashed in front of her enough room to slide out without taking her down with them. She figured catching up from a crash would be harder than from leaving a gap.

Good plan when you have the guns to close it back down. Awesome, awesome race. Her win in the Worlds was similarly brilliant. She was on the wheel of the rider in front of her and as Vos came by, she was all over it. Brilliant riding.
Deakus says:

Jan 23 2013 at 7:44 am

@ChrisO

@Deakus

@ChrisO

This is a very interesting article - it's a scientific paper so not an easy read but basically discusses the principles of anti-doping and the consequences of allowing medically supervised doping, with the conclusion it might not be such a bad idea.

Some very interesting examples given.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1851967/

This was a really interesting read....if nothing else to demonstrate what Bad Medecine is and how unsubstantiated, circumstantial evidence, with a very obvious lack of evidential data can lead to so called "common sense" conclusions being written.

Far from being a balanced medical paper this starts with a premice and then seeks to prove it by selectively picking anecdotes and avoiding some of the glaringly obvious negative evidence. Very little mention is given to athletes who have died from doping and in fact in parts the paper contradicts itself....especially when it starts to talk about anti-doping driving the behaviour underground.

It is written to sound like a medical paper, published in a medical context giving an impression of being a quality piece of research, without actually being so. I had a quick scan through the bibliography and mostly found articles, papers and scripts in a similar vein equally lacking in rigour or any type of peer review.

Interesting to read @ChrisO but I would have to say largely biased drivel.....some valid points are made, but they remain unchallenged or tested so can be given no creadence....this is more like a group of 3 people who have decided they want to state a case and carried on and done so...

You may disagree with it but it is a peer-reviewed piece of research. The author is a professor in the faculty of medicine at the University of Geneva who has authored or co-authored more than a hundred articles - not the type usually given to getting together with a group of people and dressing up spurious opinion.

It was cited by Professor Ross Parker of the Science of Sport website. He doesn't agree with it either but doesn't seem to question that it was a valid contribution. In fact he said he had previously co-authored papers with the writer.

I'm familiar with Ben Goldacre's work but his baddies tend to be those who interpret science in media or marketing/advertising, rather than the science itself and I don't see that as applicable in this case.

Actually you are correct. I looked back at your intial post and you did indeed refer to it as an article...in which case the professor and his cohorts can postulate all the theories like and there is no requirement for him to counter or argue his own points.

However I stopped being impressed by University Professors simply because they have a doctorate a long time ago, history is riddled with academics who have been proven to be anything but. I prefer to judge by actions and deeds these days.

As I said the article was an interesting read, I just found the fact that it was so one sided to be rather poor, I would much rather have seen them discuss the pros...and the cons, it would have been much more interesting, without the counterpoint I fail to see what if any conclusions we can draw from their discussion

Thanks for posting it anyway, like I said, there are some interesting points made and I may well look up some more of the references to see what other gems lie within.
Deakus says:

Jan 23 2013 at 7:50 am

@frank

@Deakus

@Chris Adams

The sooner the cycling inequality is addressed the better for the sport.

Shape up or ship out for the decision makers that dont support the girls.

Lets face it their out there winning Gold medals and would spank the best of us in competition.

Yes but saying

"The sooner the cycling inequality is addressed the better for the sport.

Shape up or ship out for the decision makers that dont support the girls."

Is part of the problem. It is not something that can be left to others to sort out. It is down to every single person to make it happen. Whether that be signing petition, refusing to hold a license and making it know why, or as simple as encouraging as many women to attend your club runs as you can. You/Me/We all cannot leave it to the powers that be to correct things because.

To adopt a quote originally from Charles F Aked

"It has been said that for evil men to accomplish their purpose it is only necessary that good men should do nothing"

I am not saying anyone is actually evil here.....simply that those that sit by and expect others to ring the changes are actually part of the problem.....the same maxim applies to those that did not not dope but said nothing.....and many other situations across life the world and the universe.

The comments are general rather than directed specifically @Chris Adams

@Chris Adams

@Deakus Agreed!

It starts in the home and encouraging the kids (was referring to the dude at the UCI in particular).

I strongly feel the women have been racing very well and putting on a show well worth watching by men and women alike; as promoters of the sport, it seems to me the burden lies with the UCI at the moment.

McQuaid needs to go, the sooner the better.

Completely agree, I am no fan of the UCI and in particular Pat Mc Quid and the continually influence of old members post retirement.

Last years VSP for women challenged me to really up my knowledge on womens cycling and I really enjoyed the season. This years could also be very interesting....The Vos Boss is currently doing the rounds and interviews and is waxing pretty lyrical about Armistead and how she believes they are fairly well matched although she right postulates that she has the slight edge (personally I think it is maturity and focus that is making the difference)

I am really looking forward to this years womens VSP...if Sky continue to dominate (Thomas is rocking in the Tour Down Under at present) then this years womens season could actually be more exciting than the mens!......now there's something to think about..
ChrisO says:

Jan 23 2013 at 9:26 am

@Deakus

However I stopped being impressed by University Professors simply because they have a doctorate a long time ago, history is riddled with academics who have been proven to be anything but. I prefer to judge by actions and deeds these days.

Speaking as one who in two days time will hand in his Master's thesis, I thoroughly concur. I have learned why the term 'academic' also has a perjorative meaning.

As far as I can tell the whole thing was a box-ticking exercise of form over substance. It is no exaggeration to say that my adviser provided more comments about the length of my paragraphs and the alignment of my tables than about the content or discussion.
Deakus says:

Jan 23 2013 at 9:27 am

@ChrisO

@Deakus

However I stopped being impressed by University Professors simply because they have a doctorate a long time ago, history is riddled with academics who have been proven to be anything but. I prefer to judge by actions and deeds these days.

Speaking as one who in two days time will hand in his Master's thesis, I thoroughly concur. I have learned why the term 'academic' also has a perjorative meaning.

As far as I can tell the whole thing was a box-ticking exercise of form over substance. It is no exaggeration to say that my adviser provided more comments about the length of my paragraphs and the alignment of my tables than about the content or discussion.

Good Luck!
eightzero says:

Jan 23 2013 at 9:35 am

@G'phant

@eightzero poor, fat, unmotivated muppet who wins the Tour

'Not a fan of rich people that achieve because they have every advantage money can buy. That's not sport. That's just...business.I get that all day long, and I get paid to put up with it. Not how I spend my recreational moments.'

Yeah, I hear you, brother. And it's not just rich people. People born with big engines. They really fiuck me off. And then there's the total cunts who have will power, determination and a killer instinct. Fuck them. The only reason they are better than me is that they have the required genetic inheritance, attitude and life circumstances to be so. Without those advantages they'd be nothing.

When a poor, fat, unmotivated, lazy muppet wins the Tour, I will be his / her biggest fan.

Oh, wait ...

This ain't about me - this about who I root for to be a champion. People born with Big Engines can be exciting to watch, and I can be inspired by them. I can't be inspired by somone that gets to train more, but more tous (or dope?) than somone else becuase they have a wad of dough in the bank. I can sort of relate to that.

No need for apologies! Call me crazy. Call me a bitch. But did you just call me fat? Yeah, ok I'm fat too. :-( Muppet? Sure - I look like a fucking g'rilla humping a tennis ball when I'm on a bike. Unmotivated? Yeah...I have to work all day because I don't have a wad of dough in the bank, and when I get home I'm tired. So yeah, I suck. But I ain't gonna root for spolied little rich girls. Doesn't mean I don't wanna date em, see em race, or admire what they look like - I just kinda grin when a beast like Nikki Cooke, or a hardwoman mother of 3, or a little girl that can only train on the weekend because she helps her family pay the rent beats her mano-a-mano. Money can't buy everything. Speed, sure. My fandom? Nope.

Tired of this. I like watching women race bikes. It's inspirational just seeing them risk everything. Pain? Sure. But they have bodies built to take childbirth of 10 pound baby boys...I'm guessing a Little V ain't such a big deal to them. I'd sure like to be like them.

And have Evie's bank account.
Buck Rogers says:

Jan 23 2013 at 10:06 am

@ChrisO

@Deakus

However I stopped being impressed by University Professors simply because they have a doctorate a long time ago, history is riddled with academics who have been proven to be anything but. I prefer to judge by actions and deeds these days.

Speaking as one who in two days time will hand in his Master's thesis, I thoroughly concur. I have learned why the term 'academic' also has a perjorative meaning.

As far as I can tell the whole thing was a box-ticking exercise of form over substance. It is no exaggeration to say that my adviser provided more comments about the length of my paragraphs and the alignment of my tables than about the content or discussion.

No kidding! Don't you hate that! I remember doing presentations during residency and fellowship, work that took a ton of research and time, and the main comments would be about how you forgot to capitalize this or your margins were too narrow or something. Makes you want to throw it all right in their face!
itburns says:

Jan 23 2013 at 10:13 am

@eightzero

I'd sure like to be like them.

And have Evie's bank account.

But then you would hate yourself. Might get awkward on long rides.