Felicity Wilson-Haffenden was “over the moon” to say 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 outdoors 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 exhausting so it was a really tight race,” Wilson-Haffenden stated, sporting wounds from a high-speed crash within the junior ladies’s street race in Glasgow. “After the street race, I used to be feeling good so I knew I may handle to complete on the rostrum immediately. The opposite ladies had been very sturdy so I am very completely satisfied about how the race went immediately.”
The time trial went much better than Wilson-Haffenden’s street race. The Australian junior street race champion crashed dramatically in one of many many activates the Glasgow circuit. She got here away with quite a lot of street rash and was fortunate to complete in sixty fifth place, 15:41 down on the winner Julie Bego of France.
“It was fairly exhausting, fairly disappointing to crash on Saturday,” Wilson-Haffenden stated. “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 quite a lot of time, cash and power into getting me there.”
What a distinction 5 days could make.
“It is fairly unimaginable. The entire Australian group has put a lot into getting me this medal. It is not simply me – I get on the bike however there’s 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 dwelling.”
Australia can thank the COVID-19 pandemic for bringing this proficient rider stepping into biking. Previously into hockey and athletics, Wilson-Haffenden took up the bike throughout 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 all the pieces.”
After profitable the Australian Nationwide Championships street 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 group 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 street additional down the road.
“TT’ing is my power however I do not assume I am fully horrible within the street race,” she stated when requested what sort of rider she is. “Sooner or later, the Classics are most likely what I’d have a look at – a Paris-Roubaix/Tour of Flanders sort of race.”
