he said on local radio that he's targetting the classics this year, and he REALLY wants
to win the Paris-Roubaix

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.

He's more suited to Ghent-Wevelgem, I reckon. His new squad will be 100% behind him.

He came very close last year in Gent Wevelgem

Cooke could win any one of the northern classics. The kind of race, where selections take place because of crosswinds, cobbles, positioning and a few tactics. He is more likely to win one of the "Semi" classics first though.

If he's doing the hard miles and has a little luck on the day, he's definitely in the group of possibles.

jock, that win Bettini deprived him of at the giro makes his 2005 a success. More so than 2004 where he only had a Tour of Med and Tour de Suisse by recollection. Tour of Med is one rung above TDU, not mcuh of a race for the hitters.

yeah, your probably right.

Roubaix? not this year...Ghent-Wevelgem, GP E3 or Brabantse Pijl maybe. He looked bloody awful at the Sun Tour a few months ago, almost as fat & slow as me. Anyone see how he was going at the Bay Crits?

Yeah....pretty good. Should've won the "car park crit champs" but Richard England surprised 'em and snatched it. Should be on good form for the Aussie titles.

Hopefully Cooke and Wilson come out with a head of steam and get a win at Het Volk or KBK. If Cooke snags a win early the confidence he gets could push him on and he might snag a big one.

Agreed, I think he needs one more year's experience and some form to get his winning career back on track.

Wilson finished 16th at San Remo 2003 so is capable over the long distance one-dayers.

Unibet get momentum and snag some early season victoires and a big one, they should force Leblanc's hand and get a tour ride. Leblanc has already flagged Agritubel but their squad is positively underwhelming. A team with leaders Agnolutto and Berges. I could have picked a better squad at bay crits taking out Mcewen and Cooke off the potential roster.

They are a very solid squad. Especially in the sprints, even losing Van Dijk. They have Zanotti, Cooke, Hunt, Omloop, and for GC they have Vandenbroucke and Quesada. Ljungblad in support.

Hopefully the golden child turned enfant terrible Franky boy snags a big win and so does Cookie and we will see these two stars at le tour.

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.