Wilson-Haffenden claims under-19 national road title

Her team didn’t even exist a few months ago, but Hobart’s Felicity Wilson-Haffenden wasted no time making an impact after winning the under-19 national road race title on Saturday.

Hobart's Felicity Wilson-Haffenden celebrates winning the under-19 national road race in Ballarat on Sunday.

HER team was born through crowdfunding and didn’t even exist a few months ago, but Hobart teenager Felicity Wilson-Haffenden took full advantage of her chance by winning the under-19 national road title on Saturday.

A day after being pipped by Mackenzie Coupland in the criterium, Wilson-Haffenden reversed that result on the road in Ballarat.

The 17-year-old worked with Team Bridgelane teammate and eventual bronze medallist, Talia Appleton, to wear down Coupland and her sprint did the rest.

Wilson-Haffenden rode two events for Inform TMX Make last year, but after the team folded she followed team manager Pat Shaw to Bridgelane.

The team has been propped up by around $125,000 from crowdfunding, including $100,000 from one donor, with Tasmanian Andrew Christie-Johnson playing a pivotal role in getting the team off the ground.

Wilson-Haffenden said the road race win was a surprise, but the disappointment of just missing criterium glory spurred her on.

“I made a few mistakes in the sprint in the crit, but I wasn’t making them again,” she said.

“We (Wilson-Haffenden and Appleton) just tried to attack the other rider (Coupland) for the last 10k or so, and it came down to a sprint.

“It’s a shock to the system to win that one.

“I’m less of a pure climber, more of a sprinter, so the way it unfolded with a small bunch finish was perfect for me.”

Wilson-Haffenden was elated to justify Bridgelane’s faith in the women’s team’s first major event.

I wasn’t expecting an NRS (National Road Series) ride last year necessarily, but was pretty keen to try and find a spot this year,” she said.

“Discussions started probably about October and I was confident coming into the end of the year I”ll have a spot.

“This is the first big event for the team. Our third under-19 rider (Nicole Duncan) also came fifth, so it was a pretty big team performance.”

Shaw said it was a nice touch an Apple Isle rider had clinched the team’s first national title.

“Andrew Christie-Johnston and I teamed up and he brought it all together,” Shaw said.

“He’s Tasmanian-based and runs Team Bridgeland. He was able to go through his sponsors of his men’s team, they were keen to have a women’s team and we were able to put it together in a ten week period in the end, which is remarkable.

“To then win a national title is huge, and it’s quite fitting it’s a young Tasmanian lady.”