Tassie talents secure podiums at Road Nationals
She was pipped by less than two seconds, but up and coming cycling star Felicity Wilson-Haffenden was one of two Tasmanians to grace the podium on the opening day of the Road Nationals. Stay up to date here.
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Tasmanian cyclist Felicity Wilson-Haffenden fell just short of adding an under-23 Australian time trial title to her junior world championship crown after a thrilling race at the Road Nationals.
With the event being held in Perth for the first time after moving from Ballarat, the 19-year-old’s time was just 1.82 seconds behind South Australian winner Alli Anderson.
Wilson-Haffenden won the national junior time trial title in 2023, before finishing second in the under-23 category last year.
She settled for silver again after Chapman capped a successful return from glandular fever which forced her off the bike for two months.
“I still can’t believe it’s real. I’ve worked so hard for this and I just can’t believe that I’ve pulled it off,” Anderson told AusCycling.
“I came in knowing I was in the best form of my life, and as long as I can execute a good ride, if someone beats me on the day, you can’t control that. I didn’t get beaten, so I’ll take that.
“I’ve struggled with some health issues over the last 18 months, so I had a two-month break last year just to shut it down and sort everything out, because sometimes you have to choose your life over a bike race, sadly. I think it was a blessing in disguise.
“I wanted to come back really strong and show people that I’m still here, and I’m good enough to be here, so it’s really satisfying to finally have something to be like, ‘Yeah, I am the best.’”
Fellow Tasmanian Anya Louw went one better than her fourth place last year by claiming bronze in the elite women’s time trial.
Brodie Chapman had won bronze and silver the previous two years, but the 2023 road race national champion and UAE Team ADQ recruit finally stood atop the podium.
In the men’s race, defending champion extended his dominant Road Nationals record to six wins in eight starts in the road race and time trial.
Plapp beat main rival Jay Vine by eight seconds, who closed the gap late around the 38.4km circuit.
The criteriums were due to be held early evening AEDT on Friday.
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