Ally Wollaston wasn’t even sure that she would be lining up at the New Zealand Road National Championships, having just had an operation to remove some metal from her wrist after a previous injury, but the uncertainty turned into two days of triumph that will see the 22 year old wear the black and white jersey of the national champion across three disciplines.
The twenty-two year old AG Insurance-Soudal QuickStep rider swept up the national criterium title for a second year running last month, then on Friday she lined up to take on the under 23 time trial, posting a time that not only won her the U23 title but proved to be the fastest across all categories. Then in the combined category road race Saturday she sprinted to victory in Tokoroa, not only beating all her U23 rivals but also the elite ones as well to claim the silver fern jersey of the national champion.
“Racing really attentively today was the key,” Wollaston said in a Cycling New Zeland media release. “I really backed myself after my performance in the time trial yesterday and just to ride aggressively and was smart.
“Today was important with tactics. There were girls all over the place – attacks right from the gun so staying really active and following good wheels was the secret.”
Wollaston beat Georgia Williams (EF Education-Tibco-SVB), in the dash for the line, with Sharlotte Lucas third. The next rider was Ella Wyllie, also in the U23 category, while Kate McCarthy took fifth. It was more than seven-and-a-half minutes later that Georgia Danford (Coop-Hitec Products) won the sprint from the bunch to take sixth, ahead of Michaela Drummond (Zaaf) and then it was Belle Judd who secured a spot on the U23 podium with her eighth place.
Williams may have come second over the line but Cycling New Zealand said she was still awarded the elite title. However it will be Wollaston not Williams wearing the national champions road race jersey for 2023 as the race technical guide states that: “If an U23 rider wins the combined race, they will be awarded the NZ National Champions jersey. The first placed Elite rider does NOT receive a Jersey. Top 3 medals will be presented to both categories.”
While winning overall was of course the main aim for Williams, the addition of Saturday’s elite title to her results record delivered at least some consolation. The 29-year-old now has four in the road race and five elite time trial titles to her name.
“That was a very fast race across the top of the…
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