A disappointed Anna Meares has admitted Australia's failure to secure a medal in the women's team sprint at the cycling world championships in London is just the shake-up they need with the Rio Olympics looming large on the horizon.
Meares teamed up with Steph Morton on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT) to match or better the bronze medal secured at the 2015 world championships in Paris, only to have Germany turn the tables and relegate them to fourth spot.
A year ago it was Australia getting the edge over Germany, but twice on Wednesday they were beaten by Miriam Welte and Kristina Vogel - first in qualifying and later with bronze on the line by narrow margins on each occasion.
Meares was unimpressed with the result itself, but hinted the shadow cast by the Rio Olympics later this year meant there were other targets in mind for the Australians.
There have been no denials from the Australian camp that the Olympics remain this year's top priority - and Meares insisted Wednesday's result has only made hungrier for Games glory.
"I think (the result) is quite justified as to where we are, what we're targeting and what our goals are," Meares said.
"We are certainly not out of it but we would've liked a little bit quicker time.
"... but you don't win them all. I always say I've lost more races than I've won and it's in the moments that you lose that you get really, really hungry."
Both Meares and Morton will immediately switch their focus to the keirin on Thursday (Friday AEDT), where fellow Australian sprinter Kaarle McCulloch is also expected to compete, highlighting the strength of depth within the squad.
Meares was quick to point out the bonus of securing another strong qualification time in the team sprint event, as the top nine-ranked teams after the world championships will receive two, rather than one, positions in both the sprint and kierin at the Rio Games.
"The team sprint is the most important event essentially, with the Olympics as the main goal," Meares said.
"But it's not winning the team sprint, it's qualifying in the team sprint. So we've done our job."
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