Australia has the fastest time so far in the elite mixed team relay at the world road cycling championships.
The team of three men and three women clocked 34 minutes 25.57 seconds over the 28.2km course on Wednesday afternoon at Wollongong.
Luke Durbridge, Michael Matthews and Luke Plapp had the fastest split over the first lap, with Georgia Baker, Alex Manly and Sarah Roy then finishing the Australian ride.
Grace Brown, who collected silver on Sunday in the elite team time trial, did not start.
She will be one of Australia's top medal hopes on Saturday in the women's road race.
Leading contenders such as the Netherlands, France and defending champions Germany were yet to finish.
Conditions were cold, overcast and windy, but so far there has been no rain.
Australia has never won a medal in the event, which was previously held at the 2019 and 2012 worlds.
