When Pip Ash combined with Katie Banerjee and Simone Grounds to win the teams classification at the annual Bathurst Cycling Classic it seemed like the start of an exciting year with her new Dhuez Racing Team.
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Also placing 17th overall in what she described as "a very tough day out", Ash couldn't have been much happier with her debut for the team.
"It was a shame to miss the crit on the Saturday (it was cancelled due to wet weather) as a bit of an opener but I was really excited for the team results and happy with my own too," she said.
But that was quickly tempered by the reality of the coronavirus pandemic, with all cycling races subsequently suspended.
"It's devastating, but I think it's one of those things that it's well and truly out of our control and out of anybody else's control so you just kind of have to get on with it, accept it and move on," Ash reflected.
The 32-year old signed with the team last October following a swift progression from social to elite level cyclist and was looking forward to a big 2020. She was even planning to contest a couple of National Road Series races, which she was excited about.
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But all of that has now been thrown out the window.
Ash is remaining optimistic that racing will be able to resume "in the not too distance future". Until then she is just trying to keep fit and keep motivated.
She acknowledges she is in a more fortunate position to those involved in other sporting pursuits. While she might not be able to race she can still go out for a ride.
"For me personally the whole COVID thing as far as training goes it hasn't changed anything too dramatically," she said.
"Obviously we can't sit around on coffee shops or go on bunch rides and things but we're still lucky and blessed we can get out and still ride our bike."
It can be a little bit lonely at times not being able to go on the big bunch rides she said, but she does have partner Sam Hill, who rides for Team BridgeLane, to train with and push her along when he is here.
"He definitely pushes me a lot harder than I would if I was just out on my own," Ash said.
She added: "We're both extremely competitive so we enjoy racing to the occasional stop sign or if we see a sign coming up we might race to it."
Conscious of not peaking "for nothing", it's really just about keeping her endurance and keeping the legs ticking over.
It is too much of an unknown at the moment to target any specific events but looking longer term Ash has the 2021 nationals firmly in her sights.
"There's definitely no harm in keeping some base kilometres ticking over with that in mind and then when we get a clearer picture from Cycling Australia and Cycling NSW as to what the race schedule is going to look like you can then start to train specific for those kinds of events," she said.
