Cyclists devastated after fifth in pursuit

Melissa Hoskins was nursing a horrible limp and a crushed soul as her Rio cycling dream ended in tears.

Hoskins and her fellow Australian team pursuiters are devastated after a training crash earlier this week cruelled their realistic Rio medal hopes.

Last year's world champions had to settle for a win over Italy on Saturday in the ride-off for fifth.

After bravely qualifying third-fastest two days ago, the lingering effects of the crash were starkly evident earlier on Saturday when they dropped out of medal contention.

They needed an upset win over the US in round one or one of the four best times, and achieved neither.

Australia was fifth-fastest and Hoskins, her hip shot, was replaced with Ashlee Ankudinoff for the Italy ride.

Hoskins was the worst-injured in the high-speed training crash at the start of the week and went to hospital.

Of the five pursuiters, only Annette Edmondson avoided the pileup.

"It's not what we wanted," Hoskins said through tears.

"It's all on one person's shoulders and it's not one person's fault.

"If I could have given more I would have but I had nothing, it wasn't to be."

The 25-year-old said before the crash that the plan was to have Rio success and then retire from the sport.

Hoskins was also part of the team pursuit squad that finished fourth at the London Olympics.

"I'm going to go away and have a think," she said.

"At the moment the body is saying no.

"I still love the sport and I want to finish on my own terms and before I hate the sport."