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American cycling star Chloe Dygert, the biggest name at the women's Tour Down Under, has heaped praised on retired Australian rider Grace Brown.
Chloe Dygert has praised Grace Brown's stunning 2024 season, calling it "the biggest mic drop".
The American cycling great was on the receiving end as her Australian rival won the Olympic gold medal and the world championship in the time trial.
Midway through last year, Brown also stunned the sport when she announced her retirement at the end of the season.
Dygert, a two-time world champion in the time trial, was asked on Thursday if she was sad that Brown had retired, or was glad to see the back of her.
"No, I would love to have her keep racing - same with (fellow American) Kristin Armstrong, she retired right as I was coming in," Dygert said.
"It's almost frustrating that there's not going to be another chance to go head-to-head.
"But what a way to end her career. That is the biggest mic drop you could have - huge congratulations to Grace ... I'm really happy for her.
"I could see her coming back - eventually, maybe - but what a way to end a career."
Dygert is the biggest name at the Santos women's Tour Down Under in Adelaide, which starts on Friday.
The 28-year-old Canyon-Sram rider previously competed at the race in 2017 and said the changes since then had been "very impressive".
Dygert has been in Adelaide for several days as preparation, staying with her old track coach Gary Sutton.
The man she calls "Old Man Gerber", now retired, guided Dygert and her teammates to gold on the track in the team pursuit at last year's Olympics.
It was the highlight of a tough year for Dygert, who battled ongoing injuries as she won bronze in the time trial behind Brown at the Games and the worlds, as well as silver in the worlds road race.
Dygert reached the podium at the Olympics time trial despite being among several riders who crashed in the sodden Paris conditions.
She was in so much pain that the American had to be lifted off her bike at the finish.
Dygert will need more surgery in the wake of her horrific injury at the 2020 road worlds, when she badly gashed her left thigh on a guard rail after crashing in the time trial.
Adding to her shocking run of injury and illness, Dygert also needs surgery after breaking her nose late last year - by walking into a bathroom door.
"I am proud, but I'm not, at the same time," Dygert said of her 2024 performances.
"We don't work as hard as we do to show up, to participate. We don't work hard to get second place. The goal is to win.
"In a way, I'm very frustrated and not happy with how the year went. But I can sit here today and just be really excited for the year to come."
Dygert will form a lethal double act at the three-day Tour Down Under with 22-year-old Australian teammate Neve Bradbury, who was third last year before also claiming third overall at the women's Giro d'Italia.
It begs the question: will Dygert work for Bradbury this week, or the other way around?
"It's a very good question. Luckily we have options," Bradbury said.
"It's also quite a versatile race, having the lap around Stirling (in the Adelaide Hills) on the last stage ... we can help each other in different ways."