DeterminED is arguably the best word to describe the six-strong Scots contingent who will take to the start line of the Commonwealth Games women's road race in Glasgow this morning.

They include the tenacious Katie Archibald, who in the past year has become a world and European team pursuit champion, last week adding a Commonwealth Games bronze medallist on the track to her growing palmares.

Eileen Roe, meanwhile, brings the stellar form that has seen her become 2014 British National Circuit Race champion and winner of the Matrix Fitness Grand Prix Series in recent months.

If you like your cyclists served with a major dose of grit and courage, this group of women have it in spades.

There is Charline Joiner who has battled to regain her fitness after breaking three vertebrae in her back in a training accident in Spain at the start of the year and Claire Thomas whose chances of competing also hung in the balance after she crashed while competing in June and fractured her hip.

Anne Ewing - or "the Doc" as she is dubbed on account of her day job - is another tough cookie who made a valiant effort to continue last year's British National Road Race Championships after suffering a serious concussion as she tumbled from her bike and hit her head hard on the tarmac.

Not to forget Gemma Neill who broke her collarbone after being hit by a double-decker bus and knocked off her bike two years ago.

While 20-year-old Archibald probably represents Scotland's best chance of a medal, each will play their own key role, not least Ewing and Roe who could equally represent a plan B for the host nation.

Archibald punctured on the first lap when she had a dry run of the course at the British nationals in 2013, but still believes having experienced the challenging route will stand her in good stead.

"It didn't really go my way back then," she said. "It's good, though. I know what's coming and how to hit it.

"It's going to be a mad one. I was out meeting friends last week and came down Montrose Street. I was claiming the beast as my own, saying: 'You don't own me.' I think it'll be a different story going up it but I've got a light bike.

"All in all I've probably lost about 5kg since I did the last road race here so fingers crossed it will be a bit easier. The course has short attacks and I'm pretty good at recovering. It's the longer drags where it becomes apparent I'm carrying a lot more than anyone else. It's my own fault, I'm not making excuses: I enjoy carrot cake, that's fine.

"Being short and punchy it might suit us," she added. "There will be a lot of attrition. There are some extreme points where, if you're not good enough, there's nowhere to hide. There are no easy rides around this. I'm not putting a big expectation on myself, finishing in the top group is the aim."