Pooley, who won Olympic time-trial silver in Beijing last year, clinched overall victory by 22 seconds ahead of Cervelo Test Team team-mate Christiane Soeder of Austria and Marianne Vos of Holland in the four-stage race.

 

The 27-year-old from Norwich won the individual time-trial on day one and triumphed in stage three by 20 seconds before consolidating her position with a fifth-place finish in the final stage to follow up Cooke's triumphs in 2006 and 2007.

 

Cooke who is the world and Olympic road race champion, had last week won the Giro del Trentino in Italy.

 

Pooley said: “This is definitely up there.

 

"It is only my second stage race I have ever won and considering I am a climber and really a rubbish sprinter, I usually need a big climb to get away.

 

“But I won the time trial and I got away on a flat stage, which for me is unusual, so that's pleasing.

 

"It shows I can do more than just ride uphill.

 

“I was really lucky in that my team was very strong.

 

"The event isn't quite the same as it means for the men.

 

"It is only four stages and it didn't have as strong a field as in the past, but I'm still really pleased. 

 

“There were some strong riders there and to beat Marriane Vos at any time, that's always an achievement.”

 

Pooley admitted wearing the famous yellow jersey around France has its drawbacks.

 

She said: “It's a bit stressful actually, because you're under pressure and everyone can see you; you really stand out in yellow.

 

“But in that way I was pleased as well, because I didn't flip under the pressure.

 

“And I had great support from my team.

 

"We had a few contenders and any of them could've won, but they decided to help me win as well.”