Amanda Spratt will not represent Australia in the elite women's road race at the UCI Road World Championships on Saturday in Imola, Italy. She is still recovering from a concussion suffered in a crash at the Giro Rosa just a week ago.

Rider Mitchelton Scott, who won a bronze medal in the 2019 road race and a silver the year before, will be replaced by Tiffany Cromwell of Canyon SRAM, a Cycling Australia press release confirmed on Thursday.

Spratt was forced to retire from the Giro Rosa stage 7 sprint in the closing stages when she and Mitchelton Scott's teammate Annemiek van Grooten, who was leading the race, crashed and further broke her wrist. The Dutchwoman will determine on Friday whether she can participate in Saturday's road race while using a splint to support her wrist.

Because of her head injury, Spratt does not have the option of using crutches or splints to participate in the race and will now just have to wait.

"I feel pretty devastated that I'm not recovered enough to compete in the World Championships right now. My shoulder is recovering well, but unfortunately the concussion still needs time," Spratt said. [The World Championships was a big goal of mine, so it's hard to accept that my form was where it needed to be. But at the same time, I am grateful to have a team around me that prioritizes my health and wellbeing."

"Although I won't be on the start line, I'll still be a part of the Aussie team and I can't wait to cheer on the team on Saturday," Spratt added.

"It's a really tough and technical course, so I think it will suit our riders.

"Our success at the last World Championships wouldn't have been possible without the support of the girls. [2020 was definitely a year of challenges.

Cromwell, who finished fifth in the 2014 World Championships road race in Ponferrada, Spain, took to social media on Thursday to wish Spratt a good recovery.

"I have some pretty big shoes to fill," Cromwell wrote on Twitter. But I am grateful for the opportunity to fill in for Amanda Spratt at this weekend's World Championships. Looking forward to joining the Australian cycling team. We wish Spratty a speedy recovery!"