Right now, Amanda Spratt would kill for an uphill finish.
But leading the WorldTour and a return to her best climbing form will do for the time being.
Just like the Tour Down Under earlier this month, Spratt had to settle for second on Saturday at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.
It was a similar scenario, with Spratt animating the race on the key Challambra Crescent climb after also leading over the top of Corkscrew on the last stage of the Santos Tour.
But then came the descent to the finish and, just like in Adelaide, Spratt had unwanted company.
At the tour, it was compatriot Grace Brown, who outsprinted her to win the stage and claim the title.
On Saturday it was Brown's FDJ teammate Loes Adegeest, who stuck with Spratt on the two climbs up Challambra and then outsprinted her at the finish for the win.
Had the two races ended with a summit finish, there is little doubt Spratt would have won.
But along with finishing third at the Australian road championships earlier this month, Spratt now knows she is back.
In late 2021, she needed major surgery on her iliac arteries and Spratt was on the back foot throughout last season.
Coupled with her move from Australian team Jayco-AlUla to Trek-Segafredo in the off-season, Spratt's start to the season leaves her brimming with confidence.
"It's a bit bittersweet. I was definitely chasing that win and the team rode amazingly well," she said.
"This time last year I was getting dropped when we went uphill, so it's nice to be up there animating the race."
Spratt said there was little she would have done differently at the finish on Saturday, noting that Adegeest told her after the final climb that she would not give any help ahead of the finish.
Given last year and where she is now, Spratt will cop these January near-misses - and she leads the WorldTour ahead of returning on Sunday to Europe.
"I would definitely love an uphill finish. It's funny, a couple of years ago I would have been so happy with second in two WorldTour races," she said.
"Now, I feel a little bit disappointed, and I'm just so hungry to get that win.
"There's a lot of fire in the belly. I'm excited, I'm not in top shape now.
"We fly to Europe tomorrow and then we start building towards European goals, so that's given me a lot of excitement and confidence."
