Gracie Elvin puts Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro ahead of world champs

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This was published 8 years ago

Gracie Elvin puts Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro ahead of world champs

By David Polkinghorne
Updated

Two-time Australian champion Gracie Elvin might be better suited to saluting at the world championships in Qatar, but she'd rather have her Olympic dream come true at Rio de Janeiro next year.

Similarly, given the choice between winning a third national title in Ballarat in January or claiming a first Spring Classic the choice is easy - breaking new ground and winning in Europe.

Two-time national champion Gracie Elvin is desperate to realise her Olympic dream.

Two-time national champion Gracie Elvin is desperate to realise her Olympic dream.Credit: Elesa Kurtz

The Orica-AIS rider is back in her native Canberra utilising the institute's facilities, while a couple of her teammates stay in the altitude house.

Elvin's getting ready to try to win the Australian road race champion jersey for a third time, having won back-to-back titles in 2013-14.

Then she'll return to Europe after a breakout 2015 where she won her first two overseas events - the Gooik-Geraardsbergen-Gooik in Belgium in June and then a stage at the Thuringen Rundfahrt a month later.

But the main goal for the year is making the Olympic Games women's road race team for Rio.

It's a course that probably doesn't suit Elvin, designed for climbers, but she felt strong results at the nationals in Ballarat, the Tour of Flanders and the Fleche Wallonne would help her stake a claim.

In contrast, the worlds course is flat and favours the pure sprinters - although strong winds also make it one that could suit Elvin.

But the 27-year-old had no doubt where she'd rather be.

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"I guess the Olympic dream is so big, I guess across the whole world, but definitely in Australia," Elvin said.

"I've had a few great mentors over the years to tell me that it's great to get to the Olympics, but not everyone gets to go, you just have to keep that in mind as well and have other goals so you're not disappointed - but definitely go for it too."

She's also shown the nationals course over Mount Buninyong is to her liking, having worn the Aussie jersey for her first two seasons riding professionally in Europe.

And she'd love to again head overseas wearing the national colours, but she has other goals she'd rather achieve.

The Spring Classics are some of the biggest races in the world.

"I loved wearing the green-and-gold jersey, that was really special, especially to do it for two years in a row," Elvin said.

"So this year every time I put my kit on, I love the Orica kit, but I definitely felt sad that I wasn't wearing the special kit.

"If I had to choose, I'd say I'd love to win a Spring Classic because I haven't done that yet. Winning the Tour of Flanders or something similar to that would be the dream and a career highlight for the rest of my life."

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