Gracie Elvin has switched her attention to the time trial world championships after finishing sixth at her first Commonwealth Games on Sunday.
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The Canberran challenged hard for a podium finish, but couldn’t go with impressive winner Lizzie Armitstead in the final lap finishing two minutes and 19 seconds adrift.
Teammate Tiffany Cromwell, who she had ridden with throughout the gruelling seven laps of the Glasgow circuit, missed bronze by millimetres behind South African Ashleigh Pasio.
“I don’t get a rest, I have to do another two months of the season, now the Orica AIS will focus on the team time trial for the World Championships and we have a couple of major tours in there as well,” Elvin said.
“Even though I’m a bit upset and disappointed right now I’m going to come away with a lot from this, I’m still pretty happy.
“This is my first Games so it’s just dealing with the pressure and the excitement and the nerves.
“To be in such a hard race with all the crowd as well, it’s a pretty special experience.”
Fellow Canberran Chloe Hosking finished 26th, after winning bronze four years ago at the Delhi Commonwealth Games.
The pair made up a six-strong Australian team which also included Melissa Hoskins, Shara Gillow and time-trial bronze medalist Katrin Garfoot.
From the outset the road race became an intriguing team battle between England, Australia and New Zealand.
“The Brits had a very specific race to run so I’m not going to have a dig at them,” Elvin said.
“We weren’t really sure how the Kiwis were going to race but they were quite aggressive in the first third of the race.
“There was a lot of corners so it’s not just the hills that really hurt the bunch, it’s just that constant changing pace you don’t really get a rhythm.
“Even if you are trying to sit in and save energy, you really have to try and stay in those top 10 wheels and that takes energy in itself.
“I was told to save as much energy as possible but we definitely had to share the work around as a team.
“The other girls who weren’t in that front group at the end they did a really good job early in the race so I’m really proud of the whole team.
“No one was selfish so I’m really happy.”
Meanwhile, Canberra’s Nathan Haas failed to finish the gruelling men’s road race on Sunday afternoon won by Welshman Geraint Thomas.
Mark Renshaw and Caleb Ewan were the only two Aussies to finish.
