Univega

Founded in 2005, the Univega team and its later iterations became a major force in the women's peloton

- Words Giles Belbin Photography Getty Images

April 19th 2006, and the last kilometre of the ninth edition of La Flèche Wallonne Féminine is approaching. The riders are starting the race's final climb, the short but brutal Mur de Huy with its sections of over 20%. Every kilometre of the 105km ridden so far has been leading to this point, the climb where the race will be decided. First one to the top wins.

As the climb gets underway, Oenone Wood, leader of the German Nürnberger team who have been working hard to set up this very attack, makes her move. Wood pulls away and the group of 27 riders around her starts to disintegrate. In second and chasing hard is Britain's Nicole Cooke, leader of the Univega team.

The climb steepens. The famous hairpins and that 20% gradient come into view. Wood is still leading but Cooke is a two-time winner of this race and knows its finale well. She may have been unable to match Wood's attack but Cooke is well aware that the 400m to the finish line can feel like an eternity and knows the race is still up for grabs.

As the slope eases slightly, Cooke begins to close the gap, inching further forward with every painful pedal stroke. With 100m to go she is level. Then, gritting her teeth, Cooke slowly and agonisingly pulls clear. In the closing metres she puts daylight between her and Wood, who will also be caught by T-Mobile's Judith Arndt and Nürnberger teammate Trixi Worrack. Finally the finish line arrives and the British Champion throws her arms in the air and lets out a cry of celebration.

Cooke has just taken her third Flèche Wallonne title in four editions. She has also just recorded Univega's biggest one-day win to date and its first at World Cup level, setting up what will turn out to be a remarkable 2006 season both for her and her team.

Team bonding in an igloo