Felicity Wilson-Haffenden was “over the moon” to assert the gold medal on the UCI Street World Championships in Scotland on Thursday. The 18-year-old beat favorite Isabel Sharp (Nice Britain) and Federica Venturelli (Italy) by 17 and 29 seconds, respectively to win Australia’s first rainbow jersey of the mixed championships exterior the para-cycling.
The Stirling course offered the same old problem of open roads and undulating terrain however with a pointy sting within the tail – a technical run-in to a steep cobbled climb to the doorstep of the Stirling Citadel.
“The course was very arduous so it was a really tight race,” Wilson-Haffenden mentioned, sporting wounds from a high-speed crash within the junior ladies’s highway race in Glasgow. “After the highway race, I used to be feeling good so I knew I may handle to complete on the rostrum right now. The opposite ladies have been very robust so I am very glad about how the race went right now.”
The time trial went much better than Wilson-Haffenden’s highway race. The Australian junior highway race champion crashed dramatically in one of many many activates the Glasgow circuit. She got here away with loads of highway rash and was fortunate to complete in sixty fifth place, 15:41 down on the winner Julie Bego of France.
“It was fairly arduous, fairly disappointing to crash on Saturday,” Wilson-Haffenden mentioned. “I put loads into that race and I used to be feeling actually good, however sadly overcooked the nook. I felt let down as a result of lots of people put loads of time, cash and power into getting me there.”
What a distinction 5 days could make.
“It is fairly unimaginable. The entire Australian crew has put a lot into getting me this medal. It is not simply me – I get on the bike however there may be a lot extra that occurs behind the scenes to make this occur. I am so proud to symbolize the inexperienced and gold – it is fairly unimaginable I will be bringing this residence.”
Australia can thank the COVID-19 pandemic for bringing this gifted rider stepping into biking. Previously into hockey and athletics, Wilson-Haffenden took up the bike in the course of the lockdowns and fairly quickly discovered it suited her.
“I’ve to thank the Tasmania Institute of Sport of Sport with Matthew Gilmore and Belinda Goss who coached me and taught me every little thing.”
After profitable the Australian Nationwide Championships highway race and time trial, Wilson-Haffenden added gold within the Oceania Championships time trial, incomes her a spot for the World Championships.
Earlier than Worlds, the crew had a block of racing in Belgium the place she got here away with a win in Deinze.
Search for the Tasmanian to chase extra rainbow bands on the Junior Observe World Championships in Colombia later this month, and go for a profession on the highway additional down the road.
“TT’ing is my energy however I do not suppose I am utterly horrible within the highway race,” she mentioned when requested what sort of rider she is. “Sooner or later, the Classics are most likely what I’d take a look at – a Paris-Roubaix/Tour of Flanders sort of race.”
