Chloe Hoskin will compete for the fifth time in the Deakin University women's elite event at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race on Saturday, but perhaps for the last time. With a record of nearly 40 wins, including La Course, a Commonwealth Games gold medal, and the Giro d'Italia Donne stage, the Australian sprinter did not expect to potentially bid farewell to her Women's WorldTour career in this race she won in 2018. Now, Saturday's 143-km race could be her last hurrah, or it could be her lifeline. Either way, the 32-year-old intends to make the most of it. If I win the World Tour race, that's 400 points, and the team wants that," Hosking said at a pre-race media conference. Whether that translates into a contract for 2023 or not, I want to have a really strong showing tomorrow. But at the end of the day, I want to race a race I can be proud of. Even if this is the last World Tour race of my career, I'm really happy to be here in one of my favorite races, and even though I didn't finish completely the way I wanted to, I at least tried to control the situation a little bit. I was able to do that."

The collapse of the B&B Hotels team derailed Hosking's smooth sailing plans to retire for the next two years. But Hosking is not one to give up easily, telling Cycling News earlier this month.

His fighting spirit was evident, and Hosking completed a repeat of the Charambra while competing in the Bay Crit race in Geelong, then returned to Canberra to attack the hills of the local climb. With a communications degree plus a law degree almost complete, her options are wide open, but Hosking has no intention of keeping her career going at all costs.

"I've talked to teams and been offered contracts, but I've turned them down," Hosking says.

"I think I've said out loud that women need to be paid the bare minimum and not have to race for less than that, and I've been very vocal about that. I think my career is justified, too, and not on a salary that's just barely above the poverty line.

Hosking spent 13 years as a professional cyclist, finding his own way to Europe and pursuing opportunities after finding obstacles in the traditional path to becoming a professional cyclist from Australia. He has raced for some of the world's top teams, from Team Columbia Women to Trek-Segafredo.

No matter what happens on Saturday, when Hosking lines up with the national team at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race in Geelong, he is taking a stance that he hopes will make the sport a better place.

"Maybe people are fed up with me and want me to shut up," said the ever outspoken Hosking. Even if this is the end of my career, I hope it will inspire other women to think, "Why would I say yes to something inferior?"

"This is a career worth more than a minimal salary, and I know I can still make an impact in cycling. But my impact may be greater if I step away now to make a positive impact on other female athletes."