The 30-year-old had shifted her focus to pursuing a career in town planning and made the decision to close the book on a career that has spanned more than a decade.

The decision to draw the curtain on her cycling career was an easy one in the end.

"When I had opportunities in town planning come up it is something that really excites me; it excites me to be able to work nine to five," Kitchen told the Port News.

"I do feel like I'm being drawn to something as opposed to away from something. I am excited to come back and have a life in Australia because I've been travelling for 12 years."

Kitchen suffered a serious concussion as a result of a crash early last year.

It was a result of that where doubts started to creep into her head although she remained confident the mental blocks that accompanied her return could have been overcome if she wanted to.

But that was where the decision was made.

"I had the thought 'do I want to overcome this'," she said.

"And I believe you can overcome anything that's put in front of you because I've previously had a lot worse injuries and never had that thought.

"I've been very flexible and adaptable over the years and while I do like that, I just want to be in one place for a while."

Kitchen is unconcerned about the restrictions in place in Australia when she returns in the next few months.

She has no interest in travelling now.

"Since I left school I've been racing overseas for 12 years and in the first year I did three months, but I had a lot of camps and then every other year I've raced for eight months a year."

Kitchen hopes to stay involved in cycling. She already trains and mentors young riders and wants to play a role in the development of young Australian riders.

Her career started with a seventh place at the junior world championships in Aguascalientes, Mexico in 2006.

She represented Australia at four elite world championships and takes pride in being part of the team supporting Amanda Spratt to bronze in Harrogate 2019.

"It's been a long process to come to the point of deciding to stop," she said.

"The time was right for me because I wasn't excited to train, to race and I wasn't motivated so it was unfair for me and my team for me to continue."

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