ROAD CYCLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Venue: Mendriso, Switzerland Dates: 23-27 September
Coverage:
Watch live on the red button and BBC Sport website (UK only)
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Nicole Cooke admits she is not in the same form that saw her win world and Olympic road race titles last year.
But she is looking forward to defending her world crown, on a course near her Swiss training base, on Saturday.
"To be truthful I'd say I'm not in the same condition I was last year," Cooke told BBC Radio Wales.
The World Championships begin on Wednesday, with Britain's Emma Pooley looking to go one better than her Olympic silver in the time trial.
Great Britain's Mark Cavendish has until Thursday to prove his fitness for Sunday's men's road race.
Cavendish is recovering from the lung infection which forced him out of the Tour of Missouri earlier this month.
Ten riders have been named with nine to race and David Millar is expected to be team leader.
There are also podium hopes for Bradley Wiggins in the men's time trial on Thursday.
Cooke, leads a seven-woman team, including Pooley and rising star Lizzie Armitstead in Saturday's event.
Video Diary - Cooke gets set for Worlds
"I had an illness in July that has taken a lot more to recover from than I expected so I've done my best to try and be at my best," she explained.
"I'm really looking forward to it. I've been training on the course in the last week, getting to know the climbs, the descents and how to pace myself.
"It's very tough. We've got two climbs each lap and nine laps to do in three hours. It will make for a very exciting race."
Three-time Olympic track champion Wiggins will concentrate on Thursday's time-trial, where he has high hopes after a season that saw him finish fourth overall in the Tour de France.
Swiss Olympic time trial champion Fabian Cancellara is favourite to take back the title he won in 2006 and '07.
Pooley, who took time trial silver in Beijing, is joined by Olympic track silver medallist Wendy Houvenaghel in Wednesday's event.
Ian Stannard would most likely be the man to miss out if Cavendish, who has won 23 races this season, can take part on Sunday.
Because of the hilly course in Mendrisio, the race is not expected to end in a sprint finish so GB would look to use Cavendish's pace to start breaks earlier in the race.
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606: DEBATE
Sparta
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Olympic team pursuit gold medallist Geraint Thomas, Ben Swift - who won a stage of the Tour of Britain on Friday and Tour de France rider Chris Froome are also in the squad.
Millar, 32, underlined his strong current form with victory in a time trial stage of the Tour of Spain last Saturday.
The Scot won the 2003 world time trial title but was later stripped of the medal after admitting drug use and served a two-year ban.
Alejandro Valverde, the overall winner of the Tour of Spain, is one of the favourites for the world title, along with Italians Damiano Cunego and reigning champion Alesssandro Ballan.
Australians Cadel Evans and Simon Gerrans - who will ride for GB's Team Sky next season - Luxembourg pair Andy Schleck and Kim Kirchen and Belgian Philippe Gilbert, are also expected to be major contenders.
Great Britain will also have high expectations for Peter Kennaugh, who will race for GB-based professional squad Team Sky next season and takes part in Saturday's Under-23 men's road race.
Sharon Laws' guide to road racing
Elite men's road race (nine from): Mark Cavendish, Stephen Cummings, Russ Downing, Chris Froome, Roger Hammond, Dan Lloyd, David Millar, Ian Stannard, Ben Swift, Geraint Thomas
Elite men's time trial: Chris Froome, Bradley Wiggins
Elite women's road race: Lizzie Armitstead, Katie Colclough, Nicole Cooke, Nikki Harris, Sharon Laws, Lucy Martin, Emma Pooley
Elite women's time trial: Wendy Houvenaghel, Emma Pooley
Under-23 men's road race: Mark Christian, Peter Kennaugh, Jonny McEvoy, Luke Rowe, Erick Rowsell
Under-23 men's time trial: Andy Fenn, Alex Dowsett
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