Pip Ash has experienced jubilation and "devastation" at her debut National Masters Championships.
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On Thursday, the Tamworth rider surprised herself by claiming bronze in the masters one criterium at the Gold Coast event.
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Two days later, she failed to finished the road race - pulling out after completing eight laps of a 10-lap event that had "significant" climbs, she said.
"I was very devastated not to finish that one," said Ash, who is not a noted climber. She added: "It definitely wasn't my day out."
The former top hockey player described her criterium win as "very, very exciting".
She had targeted the road race at the championships. "So I didn't really have expectations for the crit, and that's the one I did well in."
She continued: "It's definitely left me with a few things to work on, both on and off the bike: I've definitely taken a lot away from this event."
The Dhuez Racing member - who won division one at the Goulburn Great Divide Masters Road Races in September - will contest the elite road race and criterium at the nationals in Ballarat in February.
