Canberra cyclist Chloe Hosking had her gutsy selection appeal vindicated after she helped Australia win silver at the road world championships in Norway on Sunday.
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Hosking was a shock omission from the women's team to compete at the pinnacle event after Cycling Australia opted to only send five of a possible seven riders, while picking a full men's contingent of nine.
Australia is the world's third-ranked women's team and Hosking appealed the selection process which forced an embarrassing backflip from Cycling Australia who added the 26-year-old and Rachel Neylan to the team 10 days before the race in Bergen.
Dutch champion Chantal Blaak took top honours ahead of Australian Katrin Garfoot, while Hosking finished 58th and took to social media after the race to praise the team effort.
"I am immensely proud to have been a part of Australia's silver medal ride today. Something that wouldn't have been possible without seven riders," Hosking tweeted.
"After a self-imposed social media lock down since I won the appeal, I just want to thank everyone for your support. It has been overwhelming."
Garfoot finished 28 seconds behind Blaak who broke away from a group of seven leading riders in the last of eight 19.1-km laps.
Blaak had crashed earlier in the race but was able to stay in the leading pack.
"When I was down on the floor I thought my race was over. I hoped to come back and work for the team but never expected this," Blaak said.
"I felt this would be my only chance to become world champion. I looked behind me and couldn't believe it. I still can't believe it."
The Netherlands fielded the strongest team at the start with four riders - Annemiek van Vleuten, Anna van der Breggen, Marianne Vos and Ellen van Dijk - in the top four of the world rankings.
Van der Breggen, van Vleuten and Blaak were in the group of seven that took shape on the final lap and, with the numbers on their side, the Dutch were almost unbeatable.
Blaak attacked eight kilometres from the finish and her two compatriots did not move, leaving the effort of the chase to Garfoot.
Blaak was assured of victory in the final kilometre and held her head in apparent disbelief as she crossed the line.
The peloton came back together behind her and Garfoot still had enough energy to out-sprint defending champion Amalie Dideriksen of Denmark for second place.
Canberra cyclist Gracie Elvin also competed but did not finish, while Sarah Roy [19th], Shara Gillow [23rd], Amanda Spratt [40th] and Neylan [53rd] were the next best placed Australians. with AAP
