After dominating the under-19s in recent years, Dunn started against the nations top riders in the Points Race and while she had previously won a World Cup and two World Junior gold medals in this event, Wednesday night wasn’t going to be her race.

She finished third with 14 points behind West Australia’s Josephine Tomic (16) and the winner Belinda Goss from Tasmania with a massive 20 points.

Dunn’s Dubbo coach Gus Dawson said “you could look at the results and say she failed, but there was more to it than that,” he said.

“I spoke to her this morning and she admitted she didn’t ride a great race and made a few tactical errors that proved costly.

“But she also had a fall after 50 laps and as a result did well to pick herself up and finish third. It was a real gutsy effort but one that we now know to expect from her.

“Later in the night she was taken to hospital and had two fairly large splinters taken out of her back, but was still well enough to get back on the bike today (Thursday) and go for a ride.”

Dawson said Dunn will now focus on the Scratch Race tomorrow night and the Omnium on Sunday, and again the standard of racing will be worthy of top class competition.

“Australian women’s cycling has never been as strong as it currently is,” he said.

“We’ve got Megan coming off successive World Junior Championships with three medals one each occasion but now she’s got to go the next level. It was always going to be hard work for her - just now anyway.

“Finishing third behind Belinda Goss and Josephine Tomic is not as bad as it seems.

“Tomic is a triple World Junior gold medallist from Mexico three years ago.

“Unlike Megan, Goss has never won a World Cup but has picked up minor World Junior medals - but not gold.”