A crash which leaves your bike in pieces and your clothes in rags might not sound like the greatest stroke of luck but that is exactly how Nicole Cooke views a collision which could have ended her hopes of defending her Commonwealth title.

The Welsh cyclist - who won at the Manchester Commonwealth Games a matter of months after graduating to the senior ranks - was competing in the Wellington leg of the World Cup series just two weeks ago when the accident happened.

She suffered nothing worse than cuts and bruises when far worse injuries were possible.

And, after breaking her collarbone at a track meeting in Manchester last December, she could have been forgiven for thinking she was cursed but in fact she feels fortunate.

"My bike was destroyed, my helmet was destroyed, most of my clothes were shredded," she said.

"But I think I must have rolled because I only ended up with grazes so it was a lucky escape I think."

She added: "We were riding single file through quite a twisty, technical bit and a van from the race convoy had stopped and reversed backwards into a bus lane except two wheels were still out on the road.

"And as we came around the corner, we were still on the racing line. I hit the van with the bike rather than me, so that was quite lucky.

"I only had time for one thought and that was, 'Oh this is going to hurt' and then the next thing I knew was I was on my feet.

"I was okay and then I had to go and gather my bike and get it off the road."

A repeat of Cooke's Manchester success is probably a longer shot than if she was English or Australian.

Road racing is a team sport but, because Wales has not been able to produce another cyclist of international standing, Cooke will be on her own when the race starts on March 26.

It is nothing better than a disadvantage - especially when you consider the Australian team can pick two Olympic champions and the world number one.

But the 22-year-old - who overcame similar odds four years ago - is confident it is a disadvantage she can overcome.

"Road racing is a very interesting mix of the physical side of things and the tactics," she said.

"There's always that that other people will have and I won't.

"But I think the course is quite demanding so I think that, by the end of the race, the hills will take their toll and I think you'll find the strong riders will be at the front of the race and that's what counts."

The home cyclists will be the biggest threat to Welsh hopes with Athens gold-medallist Sara Carrigan and world number one Oenone Wood ably supported by the veteran Kathryn Watt, who won the same title in 1992, among others.

England can also field a strong team with Rachel Heal, a bronze-medallist in Manchester, hoping for a chance to get one over on Cooke who has beaten her at the last four British nationals.