The 22-year-old prevailed in a bunch sprint to the finish line of Sunday's gruelling 160km road race, one of the longest one-day road races in the world.

Edwards praised her ARA Skip Capital teammates for providing the platform for her victory ahead of Chloe Hosking and Matilda Reynolds.

"To be honest, I'm just shocked," Edwards said.

"I hoped it would happen today but I didn't really believe it until I was over the line.

"I have to thank every single girl on this team, I did not touch the wind the entire race, I hid in the bunch, saved my legs.

"The girls road super-aggressively and then set up the finish exactly how we wanted it so I'm super impressed and proud to be a part of this team."

Edwards, who won Commonwealth Games gold on the track in the teams pursuit last year, avoided a crash just after the halfway stage which left Courtney Sherwell suffering a suspected broken arm and Elizabeth Young also requiring medical treatment.

Australian Associated Press