Australian Rochelle Gilmore had to dodge wild dogs and monkeys on her way to victory in a gruelling Commonwealth Games women's road race through the streets of Delhi on Sunday.
Gilmore also had to contend with heat, humidity and dust before claiming the title in a sprint finish at the end of the 112km race.
"We weren't expecting so much dirt and dust," she said. "We could taste the dirt in our mouths but we didn't think about that.
"Apart from the wild monkeys and dogs, there was nothing too challenging. We were told there would be no wild animals but there were."
Delhi's wildlife has become a familiar part of India's first international multi-sport Games in nearly three decades with stray dogs, large beetles and a plague of moths accompanying events.
Authorities also rented giant black-faced grey langur monkeys to keep the smaller, more common monkeys away from venues but securing the 13.7km road circuit proved harder to manage.
There was no danger of disruption by spectators, however, as a huge security operation locked down the centre of the Indian capital.
A well-executed plan by the Australian helped Gilmore across the line for gold, while Wales's Olympic champion Nicole Cooke finished fifth.
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