CREATE TABLE table_204_204 (id DECIMAL, "rank" DECIMAL, "heat" DECIMAL, "country" TEXT, "cyclists" TEXT, "result" DECIMAL, "notes" TEXT)

was australia or france higher ranked ?
SELECT "country" FROM table_204_204 WHERE "country" IN ('australia', 'france') ORDER BY "rank" LIMIT 1
SELECT "country" FROM "table_204_204" WHERE "country" IN ('australia', 'france') ORDER BY "rank" NULLS FIRST LIMIT 1