Nicole Cooke of Britain won the women's road race at the Beijing Olympic Games on Sunday.

Cooke dashed out of the leading group within less than 400 meters to go, and clocked three hours, 32 minutes and 24 seconds to win the gold.

Britain's Nicole Cooke is excited after passing the finish line during women's cycling road race of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, August 10, 2008. Nicole Cooke won gold in the event. [Xinhua]

Emma Johansson of Sweden took the silver while Tatiana Guderzo of Italy got the bronze.

Cooke did not have a good start. Italian Vera Carrera took the lead from the very beginning, followed by Australian defending champion Sara Carrigan and Judith Arndt of Germany.

Hanka Kupfernagel of Germany started attacking after 50 kilometers, but it was Natalia Boyarskaya of Rassia, who just won the Tour Feminin en Limousin, surprised all to take the lead in the last two laps.

Beijing's August rain has posed a big challenge to all riders. Son Hee Jung of South Korea fell to the ground after crashing with other six riders. She stood up and finished the race.

As the rain got heavier, more and more cyclists went down on the wet road as Alexandra Wrubleski of Canada and Meng Lang of China had to put their bike's chain back before taking off again.

Chinese cyclist Gao Min placed 16th, taking the best result for Chinese cyclists on Olympic cycling road race.

The mass start road cycling race started at Yongdingmen Gate, running through Tian Qiao, Temple of Heaven, the Great Hall of the People, Tian'anmen Square, Changpu river park, Imperial Palace Wall Relics Park, Shatan, the Lama Temple, Temple of Land, the Yuan Dynasty City Wall Relics Palace, Olympic Sports Center, the Bird's Nest (national stadium), and the Beijing Olympic Tower, Zhongguancun High-tech District, Peking University, the Yuanmingyuan Park, Juyongguan Great Wall, Badaling Great wall.

The design of the route offered the world a comprehensive appreciation of Beijing's beautiful landscape.

Sixty-six cyclists from 33 countries and regions competed in the 126km race.

Riders pass the Tian'an Men Square during women's road race of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, August 10, 2008. [Xinhua]

(Xinhua News Agency August 10, 2008)