The selection criteria for those positions take in many other performances and will almost certainly go to Kathy Watt (second yesterday at 1min 50sec behind), Anna Wilson (third) and Tracey Watson (ninth at 4:04 off the pace). Nixon, who took up competitive cycling only 18 months ago, has had a meteoric rise, but before yesterday was ranked No. 7 of the AIS riders.
When the team is announced today only six will be named to go to Europe with two returning home when the squad goes to America on May 20. The other unlucky rider will be Queenland's Cath Reardon, who has been one of Watt's arch rivals in the past.
Yesterday's race did nothing for women's cycling with Nixon allowed to dictate the pace alone in front after she made an attack with NSW's Christine Twomey in the 10th lap of the 26-lap event. The applied science graduated gradually increased her lead to an impregnable 2:05 at the bell, giving those behind no chance of making up the leeway over the course's four kilometre's. National coach Andrew Logan was so frustrated at the lack of challenges he admitted afterwards that with five laps left, he called out, "Hey, it's a race here, selections are on the line."
Watt, already assured of selection after winning Wednesday's time-trial, said she planned to attack with 40km remaining, but cramped every time she lifted off the seat. "Lyn's a good friend of mine," Watt said. "I was really pleased to see her get out there today and really take it to everyone." "It was up to the other girls to chase and really make a race of it."
Logan also confirmed that Nixon's position within the team was on the line yesterday. "Coming into the race, Lyn had already prepared herself that she wouldn't even make the trip overseas,: he said. "It was known she had to come out with a super performance and she's certainly done that. That's what the selection process is all about." Logan said Watson had assured her spot with sensational time-trial performances recently in New Zealand when she defeated the 1994 world champion, 1995 silver medallist and US time-trial champion. Nixon's overall winning time was 2hr 54min 29sec with the fastest lap recorded being 6:07.