Veteran cyclist Julia Hawley again demonstrated the guts and determination that has been a hallmark of her long athletics career as she battled to a 25th place finish under a blazing Australian sun in yesterday?s women?s road race.

For seven of the nine 11-kilometre laps around Melbourne?s Royal Botanical Gardens, the 42-year-old former runner and triathlete tucked in with the peloton, only to lose touch in a frantic finish to decide the medals.

In a starting field of 31, she eventually crossed the finish line in three hours, three minutes and 27 seconds, some seven minutes behind Australia?s gold medallist Natalie Bates and a mere four minutes adrift of silver and bronze winners, Oenone Wood of Australia and Wales? Nicole Cook.

Snatching one of those medals had never been a realistic goal for the only Bermudian in the field. But keeping in touch with some of the best riders in the world over a hilly, highly technical 100 kilometre course had.

And Hawley looked comfortable in the middle of the main pack after a breakaway group of five had taken the race by the scruff of the neck on the very first lap.

It was from that group that Bates (2:56:08) eventually broke clear to ride solo on the last two laps and claim gold. Her early companions wilted as the peloton made up four minutes in a little over 15 kilometres, but Hawley didn?t quite have enough in the tank for that final burst as she fell back into a third pack.

Yet, having narrowly avoided a spectacular early crash which saw three riders catapulted over their handlebars and left Kiwi Melissa Holt unable to continue, she stuck like glue to the Australian, Canadian and English teams who engineered the chase.

?It was just awesome. I think I raced really well,? said Hawley who, as in last week?s time trial, was watched by her husband and parents.

?I stuck in there until about lap seven when they made up their minds they were going to make up those four minutes on the girls at the front. Then the attacks were just unbelievable.

?But, you know, I was really pleased that I hung in there with the New Zealand girl (Susie Wood). We just worked together for the last lap and a half.

?I was just soaking up the moment.

?Before that Nicole Cook (defending champion) was in our group and I knew it was only a matter of time before they began the chase. They took four minutes off in a lap and a half. Unbelievable!?

Despite the heat and the hills, Hawley said it might not have been her toughest race.

?Every race is different, the attacks were really fast and furious here but in between it was fine. I?ve certainly had races as hard as that. I felt good the whole way through. But it?s a very hard course.?

As for the pile-up on lap five, Hawley found herself in the right place at the right time.

?Someone attacked in the feed zone, and that?s not good,? she recalled. ?I was lucky to avoid it.

?From then on I just stuck to my own race plan. I tried to stay up in the top third, which I did. It was really just those last couple of laps that got me.?

While one of the oldest in the field, Hawley refused to entertain any thoughts about retirement.

?I tell you what, it was just a great day today, the atmosphere, everything,? she said. ?I can see why athletes never want to quit because you don?t want to give that up.

?It?s been so tremendous with my family here. We?ll see what happens. In women?s racing, it?s not unusual to be racing at my age. I?ll certainly still be riding, and riding hard.

?The crowds and support have been awesome and I?d love to do it all again.?