Australian Olympic gold medal hope Caroline Buchanan has just missed out on a third-straight BMX World Cup win.
After taking out the time trial qualifier at Papendal in the Netherlands, Buchanan lost the final to local rider Laura Smulders in a photo finish.
The Australian finished second by just .04 of a second as she maintained her World Cup series lead after three rounds.
It was the last World Cup race before the world championships at the end of this month in Colombia, as riders gear up for the Rio Olympics in August.
"A win in the time trial and a second place with a photo finish at the line today, I am pleased and walk away injury-free," Buchanan said.
"I'm coming into the world championships in 21 days confident."
Buchanan has never won the final at Papendal, but was pleased with how she performed this time.
"For the past five years I have come to this track and struggled with the triple jump into the first corner, but this year I managed to have some big wins mentally to jump it in the final and also cope with changeable weather conditions," she said.
"Laura Smulders had home track knowledge and rode that last straight well to get me on the line.
"Overall I'm happy with my consistency and form.
Australian Sam Willoughby finished fourth in the men's final, won by Latvian Maris Strombergs.
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