Originally Posted by jock
On recent form... no chance. Even if he gets back into scintillating form physically his mind will probably still be a tad fragile after the horror of 2005. Needs some more achievable targets under his belt first I reckon.
had another look at the results from the early Giro. He was doing well.
He came 4th in stage 1 where Bettini took a flyer on an uphill finish. Mcewen lead hom Petacchi and then Cooke. I think there was a time gap after those three.
Cooke's support would be equivalent or less than robbie Mac, and far less than Petacchi. Quality result.
Stage 2. He got checked when Petacchi was boxed in and had to stop and accelerate again. Never a chance. His 5th therefore might have translated into a podium (*on legs merit) but hey, thats sprinting.
Stage 3 uphill finish. peloton
Stage 4 he gets put into the barriers after he has wound up the 11 and is taking half a wheel each 10 metres. Would have won by a length had Bettini not died, and if he died he would have got him by more.
I think he fall took it out of him and he was blocked after.
By most reports he was one of the strongest with Mattan and Flecha in Gent Wevelgem. He animated that race and bridged to the break solo and just missed the crucial move from the break.
Flecha will win Roubaix and Flanders by the time he has retired. I think Cooke could do the same.
I think that stuffed his season, he was flying past Ogrady at the Giro and Ogrady had his best tour de france ever by aways, in terms of consistency in the bunch sprints. albeit, this does not take inot account how their training and objectives were measured.
Also, I think Cookie never does specific sprinting training outside the tour lead up. When he was with the under 23's in Italy he was not aware of his capacities and trying to climb with the GC'ers. I still think he is in a few minds about where his specialisation lies. I think it is encouraging he is looking at Roubaix as his number 1 objective.