Siejka started the annual criterium with Tasmanian international cyclist Tom Sawyer 10 years ago.

In 2009, Siejka died in a skiing accident in New Zealand and the race has since been named in his memory.

``He was an extraordinary person, very inspiring and hard working,'' O'Donnell said.

``He had a great passion for his work and his cycling.''

When O'Donnell, originally from Queensland, came to Launceston as a medical student, she had no idea that years later she would take up cycling.

Now, aged 37, her aim is to compete at next year's London Olympic Games.

O'Donnell, who studied, obstetrics and gynaecology, didn't take up cycling until her 30s. She had started rowing at 26 with the hope of competing at the Olympics after watching the Sydney Games on television.

``I was a good sculler, but I never made a national team,'' she said.

In 2006, she turned to triathlons and competed in the Hawaii Ironman triathlon.

Then, after reading an interview with national women's road coach Warren McDonald, which suggested athletes from other sports would make good time triallers, she decided to try cycling in 2007.

In 2008, she won the national and the Oceania championships.

The ambitious athlete had hoped to make the Olympic team to compete in Beijing but was not selected.

But, her Olympic dream is still alive.

For the past two years, O'Donnell has been racing as a professional cyclist with Team Valdarno and Top Girls Fassa Bortolo in Italy.

Her motivation as an athlete was to be the best she could be.

``I'm not stopping until that's done.''