Amanda Spratt has reflected on how she rode through "hell" to deliver Australia's cyclists a memorable team time trial triumph for their first gold at the world road championships in Rwanda.
The 38-year-old veteran and teammate Brodie Chapman battled to the line after a brutal ascent over cobblestones amid the stifling heat and humidity of Kigali before hitting the line just over five seconds faster than France to lead the six-strong team to a glorious triumph on Wednesday.
Afterwards, completely spent on the floor, Spratt and Chapman were embraced by their other teammates - time trial silver medallist Jay Vine, comeback man Michael Matthews, national TT champ Luke Plapp and rising star Felicity Wilson-Haffenden - as the Aussies successfully defended the crown they won in Zurich last year.
