She gave it everything she had, but a fourth Tour Down Under title wasn't quite within her grasp.
After three consecutive titles, Amanda Spratt finished third overall in the four-stage 383km womens Tour Down Under in Adelaide on Sunday.
The Springwood cyclist won the second stage, but it was American Ruth Winder from team Trek Segafredo, who went on to win the title after taking out stage three and finishing second in stage two.
"I'm happy with third overall. It was a very different race this year with no bigger climbs or hilltop finish, so it came down to time bonuses. The team supported me really well and I'm so happy to get a stage win, especially wearing the Australian champion jersey after the hard work they put in," Spratt said.
"I came here to win but I'm not too disappointed. That's bike racing and you can't win everything. It's unrealistic to say I can keep winning every year and my reign here had to end at some point. Ruth Winder and Trek Segafredo has a great race and proved worthy winners."
Spratt also won the Australian National Road Race Championships earlier this month in Ballarat, which she secured silver in last year, after wins in 2016 and 2012.
The 32-year-old was to return to the Blue Mountains on Monday for a week, before heading south again for the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, then on to Europe to prepare for the start of the European cycling season in March.
