Olympic cycling: Nicole Cooke fails to win second gold

Olympic cycling champion Nicole Cooke has failed in her bid to win a second gold medal in the women's road race.

In a rain-affected race, the gold went instead to Dutch rider Marianne Vos and silver to Lizzie Armitstead - Great Britain's first medal of the Games.

Cooke, 29, from Wick in the Vale of Glamorgan, had been the first member of Team GB to win Gold at Beijing in 2008.

But she could not keep up with the blistering pace in London 2012's race on Sunday afternoon.

Cooke was separated from the leading three and finished in the chasing pack.

Four years ago, Cooke became the first Welsh athlete in 36 years to win Olympic gold and her supporters back home in the Vale of Glamorgan had believed she could triumph again.

David Bullen, landlord of the Lamb and Flag pub, where villagers watched the race, had hoped before the race began that she could maintain her "exceptional" record.

Cooke's parents Tony and Denise stayed at home for her triumph in China but this time they travelled in London to watch.

The road race began from The Mall before the riders headed south-west through the city.

They then crossed the River Thames at Putney Bridge and continue out through Richmond Park, Bushy Park and past Hampton Court Palace.

The Surrey section of the course incorporates two circuits of a challenging loop around Box Hill before the riders head north through Leatherhead, Esher, Kingston-upon-Thames, Richmond Park and finish back at The Mall.

Elsewhere, other Welsh competitors include swimmer Georgia Davies in the 100m backstroke heats while Ieuan Lloyd competes in the 200m freestyle.

Davies was impressive in her heat on Sunday morning at the Aquatics Centre, qualifying sixth fastest for the semi-final on Sunday night, as Australian Emily Seebohm set a new Olympic record.

Fellow Ieuan Lloyd missed out on a place in the 200m freestyle semi-final, after finishing sixth in his heat and 19th overall.

At the rowing at Eton Dorney, Victoria Thornley and the women's eight will compete in Tuesday's repechage after finishing third in their heat.

But there was disappointment for Elena Allen, who failed to qualify for the women's skeet shooting final

Sarah Thomas could feature for the GB women's hockey team's opening match against Japan.