Cooke misses out on a medal

Nicole Cooke missed out on an Olympic medal in the women's road race as the Giro d'Italia winner found herself wanting for extra pace on the final lap and finished in fifth place.

The race was won by Sara Carrigan of Australia who sprinted clear of German Judith Arndt in the closing 100 metres.

A misjudged corner on the final lap of the 118.8-kilometre race ruined Cooke's bid for the gold medal, and she finished a couple of metres down on bronze medallist Olga Slyusareva, of Russia, with Australian Oenone Wood taking fourth.

Cooke underwent knee surgery just months before travelling to Athens but recovered to win the Welsh national championships and the Giro, one of cycling's most gruelling races.

She misjudged a corner, hit a barrier and had to step off her bike as the race hotted up in the closing stages, putting an end to her bid for gold or silver.

Cooke, 21, claimed a bronze at last year's World Championships and gold at the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2002.

But Olympic success proved elusive on a frustrating afternoon.