By Eamonn Tiernan
Canberra cyclist Gracie Elvin has become first Australian woman to podium at the Tour of Flanders, after finishing second in Belgium's iconic road race.
Elvin, 28, rode a near-perfect race after catching the leaders with just one kilometre remaining and sprinting to the line alongside American winner Coryn Rivera on Monday morning.
Gracie Elvin became the first Australian woman to podium at the Tour of Flanders on Monday.Credit: TDWsport.com
Dutch rider Chantal Blaak rounded out the podium as she edged out Elvin's Orica-Scott teammate Annemiek van Vleuten in the 153km epic.
The Australian-based team delivered a tactically strong race with van Vleuten part of a four-rider attack that went clear 30km from the finish.
Winner: Gracie Elvin on the podium after taking out the Bay Classic criterium crown.Credit: Con Chronis
The move gave Orica-Scott options with Elvin sitting in the chasing pack 40 seconds behind the leaders, before an explosive finale saw the race decided on the line.
Two-time Australian road race champion Elvin had set her season for the women's 14th Tour of Flanders and created history as the first Australian woman to mount the podium.
"The win would have been amazing, but I was so close today," Elvin said at the finish.
"My best place in previous editions was not even in the front group, so to come here and be in the mix and try to go for the win is amazing.
"It just goes to show all the hard work I've put in this season is paying off and how great the team was today."
Elvin praised her teammates in one of the best rides of her career, but admitted on Twitter her happiness was shared with disappointment for van Vleuten.
"I really didn't have to do much before the finish, everyone had a role to play and they did it brilliantly, especially Annemiek right at the end," Elvin said.
"She could have won today and I had to make sure I made the right decisions once that group had been caught.
"This is definitely a career highlight for me, I've been dreaming about this for a long time and after coming so close again and again I want to keep improving."
After second place at Dwars door Vlaanderen on March 22, Elvin and her teammates are hitting peak form as the European season kicks into gear.
Erica-Scott sport director Gene Bates said, "It's bittersweet really, we had Annemiek up there with three others going into the finale and she probably would have won the sprint from that group had it stayed away, but in the end it was a great result for Gracie, the first Australian female to podium at the Tour of Flanders."