Veteran cyclist Julia Hawley savoured the occasion like none other.

At 42, the oldest competitor in the field and taking part in what will almost certainly be her last major Games, she gave her absolute all in a time trial performance this morning that left her 11th best in the Commonwealth . . . and with memories that will last a lifetime.

Second to be sent off on the 29 kilometre St. Kilda course ? each of the 14 starters were separated by one minute ? Hawley hit the finish line 42 minutes, 58.57 seconds later in exactly the same position in which she started.

Having quickly pegged back Maltese rider Stephania Magri, the only girl in front her, Hawley then rode as if her life depended on it, managing to hold off all those behind her except eventual gold medallist Oenone Wood of Australia.

On the podium minutes after the event finished it was a familiar sight with Wood and her two team-mates, Kathryn Watt (silver) and Sara Carrigan (bronze) making it another Aussie sweep.

But Hawley hardly needed a medal to make her day. Having finished just over five minutes behind the winner, she?d already far exceeded expectations.

?I just feel so excited and so happy,? she said. ?This was better than anything I could have imagined. I was shooting for under 45 minutes and I went under 43, I?m just ecstatic.

?More than anything I wanted a great race today. And I tell you, I just felt fantastic all the way.

?It was hot and it was hard and everyone was saying the course was flat. But the last 5K was so painful.

?But it was just a fantastic day, the atmosphere here was wonderful, I just had a great day soaking it up. I?m so thrilled.?

Followed in the support car by Bermuda coach Greg Hopkins and watched by both of her parents and husband on the roadside, Hawley quickly gained ground on the only rider in front of her, and by the 14.5K turnaround on the out-and-back course had hit the front.

?I knew I was going well and when I saw her (Magri) I tried not to get too excited and blow up,? said Hawley. ?I just tried to keep focused and when I passed her I stuck to my plan to go as hard as I could.

?I knew the Australian girl (Wood) was going to come up on me, but I was so glad the New Zealand girl (Alison Shanks) didn?t get me. I was determined to come across second. And I did.? As for Sunday?s road race, which would normally be considered Hawley?s strength, the Bermudian said she wouldn?t even be thinking about that event for a while .

?It?s another big day, but you know right now I?m so happy. I?ve already had the greatest experience of my life and I?m thrilled.?

Coach Hopkins agreed the result was much better than he had anticipated.

?When you put this into perspective, and look at the quality of the top women in this field, it?s stunning. She caught the Maltese girl in front of her before the turnaround, passed her and then made time on the Malaysian girl.

?We went into this with the expectation of Julia setting a personal best. And she was so smooth out there, so strong, so concentrated, picking perfect lines, it was amazing.

?It was way above expectations and I?m sure she?ll be really happy.

?She?s worked so hard for this and reaped the benefits. There were a lot of sacrifices to get this far and she deserves today.

?The road race is obviously a priority but I think that her performance today is going to be the memory that she?s really going to cherish.

?We?ll look at the results afterwards, the time, the average speed and I know she?s going to be delighted. It was an awesome performance.? Meanwhile, as Hawley climbed off her bike, Bermuda?s Tyler Butterfield was preparing to mount his.

In a huge men?s field of close to 70 riders, Butterfield was scheduled to begin his time trial at 1.34 p.m. local time in 36th position.

Bermuda?s other rider at these Games, Geri Mewett, opted to skip the time trial and will instead concentrate solely on Sunday?s road race in which Butterfield will also compete.

Also this morning, swimmer Graham Smith, apparently still troubled by a shoulder injury, withdrew from the 200 metres breastroke heats.

Later today, runner Ashley Couper takes her place on the start line in the final of the 1500 metres at the Melbourne Cricket Ground while Bermuda?s full bore shooters Nelson Simons and Walter Trott are also back in action.