Canberra cyclist Grace Elvin will use next year's European season to set herself up for a crack at Olympic Games glory at Rio de Janeiro.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 26-year-old has re-signed with Orica-AIS for next year after breaking through for her first win in Europe this year.
Elvin's victory in the Gooik-Geraardsbergen-Gooik in May came after she went close earlier on in the season.
She backed that up with a stage victory at the Internationale Thuringen Rundfahrt der Frauen in June.
"I had put a lot of pressure on myself over the Spring Classics and didn't quite get the results I was hoping for, so to get a win not long after was a relief as much as it was exciting," Elvin said.
"It gave me the confidence I needed to know I am heading in the right direction with my training, and to go for more results for the rest of the season.
"Only a month later I won another race and I finally felt like I'd earned my place among some of the best professional riders."
Elvin turned professional in 2012 and won the national championship in the women's road race in 2013 and 2014.
Her focus for next year is to become more consistent and to be hitting her peak at the Olympics in Rio.
"I want to step it up again in 2016 and be consistently competitive with the top 20 riders in the world at the big races," Elvin said.
"The Olympic Games is my biggest goal for next year and I will be working very hard with that event in mind.
"I will also be focusing on the Spring Classics as theses are my favourite races of the season."
Orica-AIS sport director Gene Bates said the team always had confidence Elvin would be able to handle the step up in class.
"It took Gracie a little while to get her first European win, but once she got it she really didn't look back," Bates said.
"She won in Gooik, again at Thuringen and took multiple other placings too.
"It really confirmed to us what we've been looking to get out of Gracie for the last couple of seasons - that ability to race a Classics style one-day race.
"She's really maturing into that racer and we know she can win big races."
Orica-AIS confirmed it had also retained another former national champion, Amanda Spratt, for next season.
