Tasmanian Felicity Wilson-Haffenden secures huge win in Europe

A Tasmanian may just be the new golden girl of Australian cycling after her huge win at the World Championships. See the details.

STIRLING, SCOTLAND – AUGUST 10: Gold medallist Felicity Wilson-Haffenden of Australia celebrates winning during the medal ceremony after the Women Junior Individual Time Trial a 13.4km race from Stirling to Stirling at the 96th UCI Cycling World Championships Glasgow 2023, Day 8 / #UCIWT / on August 10, 2023 in Stirling, Scotland. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)

Australian cycling has a new star on its hands in the form of Tasmanian Felicity Wilson-Haffenden with the 18 year-old winning the junior women’s time trial at the UCI Road World Championships in Scotland.

Wilson-Haffenden claimed the title with a time of 19:31:51 on a 13.4km course that finished with a gruelling final kilometre on cobbles up to Stirling Castle.

STIRLING, SCOTLAND – AUGUST 10: Gold medallist Felicity Wilson-Haffenden of Australia celebrates winning during the medal ceremony after the Women Junior Individual Time Trial a 13.4km race from Stirling to Stirling at the 96th UCI Cycling World Championships Glasgow 2023, Day 8 / #UCIWT / on August 10, 2023 in Stirling, Scotland. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)

After posting the quickest ride of the day – 41.5km/h (average) – she had an anxious wait as 34 other riders looked to ecplise her.

But with every challenger unable to beat her blistering display, Wilson-Haffenden secured the rainbow jersey just two-and-a-half years after taking up the sport.

“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,” Wilson-Haffenden said post-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 breathes before the hill, then it was one kilometre full gas.

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

It was an enormous effort from the talented Tasmanian teen who crashed in the junior women’s road race last weekend.

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

STIRLING, SCOTLAND – AUGUST 10: Felicity Wilson-Haffenden of Australia sprints during the Women Junior Individual Time Trial a 13.4km race from Stirling to Stirling at the 96th UCI Cycling World Championships Glasgow 2023, Day 8 / #UCIWT / on August 10, 2023 in Stirling, Scotland. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)

“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.”

It’s been a somewhat meteoric rise to the top of the podium for Wilson-Haffenden who began cycling in 2021 after playing hockey growing up.

Fellow Tasmanian cyclist Sam McKee also continues to perform strongly at the Youth Commomwealth Games with a gold medal in a scratch race while Launceston’s Hamish McKenzie won bronze in the under-23 individual time-trial in Glasgow.