Worlds: How Felicity Wilson-Haffenden became junior time trial world champion

Felicity Wilson-Haffenden has executed the ride of her life to win the junior women’s time trial world championship.

Just two-and-a-half years after she took up cycling, Wilson-Haffenden claimed the title on a 13.4km course that finished with a tough final 1km on cobbles up to Stirling Castle.

After a shaky start on the ramp, the Australian junior time trial champion composed herself, pacing her effort to perfection.

The Tasmanian stopped the clock at 19:31:51 minutes, collapsing in exhaustion after crossing the finish line.

She had posted the fastest ride of the day with an average speed of 41.5km/h, but with 34 other riders still to come, she had an anxious wait in the hot seat.

But no-one could match Wilson-Haffenden's blistering time, and what was pure pain when she crossed the finish line, turned to elation when she realised she had secured the rainbow jersey.

“It felt good, and it felt bloody hard but I knew I put out the best performance I had, and at the end of the day that’s what I would be proud of,” she said after the win.

“I knew I had to leave enough for the final.

“I controlled it as much as I could, and on the way back I had to go for it. A few breaths before the hill, then it was 1km full gas.

“It was pure pain, but when there is a world championship jersey at the end it’s all worth it.”

Wilson-Haffenden’s time was 16.59 seconds ahead of silver medallist British rider Isabel Sharp.

It was a win made sweeter for Wilson-Haffenden, who was disappointed after crashing in the junior women's road race on Saturday.

“I put a lot into that race and I was feeling really good," she said.

“Personally, I felt like I let a lot of people down because a lot of people put time and money and energy into getting me there, so it was just about trying to reset, put that all behind me, and put full focus on the TT.

“The whole Australian team has put so much into getting me this medal. It’s not just me - I mean I get on the bike, but there is so much behind the scenes that happens to make this happen. I’m so proud to represent the green and gold and I’m so proud to be able to bring this home for them.”

Wilson-Haffenden is the first Australian to win the junior women’s time trial title since Macey Stewart in 2014.

It's been a quick rise to the top of the world for Wilson-Haffenden who only took up cycling in 2021.

"I was a hockey player and an athletics performer, then covid hit and we had lockdowns at home, so I got on a bike because I couldn’t play hockey. I went and did some talent testing because I thought this is alright and really its gone from there," she said.

“We are lucky to have the Tasmanian Institute of Sport with Matthew Gilmore and Belinda Goss who have coached me and taught me everything really.

"I’d say TTs are definitely my strengths but I don’t think I’m completely terrible in a road race either. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the best day on Saturday but in the future classics are probably what I’m going to look at doing, the sort of Paris-Roubaix, Tour of Flanders type race would be where I’d like to go."

Meanwhile, West Australian Mackenzie Coupland backed up her ninth place in the junior women’s road race with fifth in the time trial, 41.49 seconds behind Wilson-Haffenden.

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Photos: SWPix