Once a promising young track cyclist and now acknowledged as an experienced and medal-winning professional, Georgia Williams has the opportunity stamp her name in history at the 2023 Elite Road National Cycling Championships in Tokoroa this weekend.
The 29-year-old Williams, after six years with Jayco Ulula, formerly known as Australian-backed Green Edge, has joined as team leader for new UCI WorldTour team, EF Education-TIBCO, with fresh hopes and new opportunities.
Williams heads into this weekend’s national road championships off the back of her second Commonwealth Games medal at Birmingham, as a three-time national champion in the road race and four-time winner of the time trial.
Victory in the time trial on Friday will draw her equal with the record five wins by Melissa Holt while a win in the road race on Saturday will see her join Rushlee Buchanan on top with four titles.
Williams, who dominated the time trial last year, takes on a strong field including Commonwealth Games track pursuit champion Bryony Botha, last year’s under-23 podium winner and fellow WorldTour rider Henrietta Christie and national criterium champion Ally Wollaston.
On the road she will face a number of teams working together to unseat her along with Botha, Zaaf Team professional Michaela Drummond, former WorldTour rider Sharlotte Lucas, UCI Continental rider Rylee McMullen, UCI professional Ella Wyllie, second best young rider at the Tour Down Under, and the Black Magic team of promising rising riders.
“I am always pretty motivated for nationals. It is always a hard race as I am very watched and followed but I am looking forward to it,” said Williams.
“The move to EF Education-TIBCO is exciting. It’s like a new job in the normal world. It was good at Bike Exchange and I was happy there but this is the chance of a fresh start and new experience.
“Team TIBCO has run in America but with a bigger sponsor in EF Education it means they will be European-based as a WorldTour team and race the full European circuit which is pretty cool.
“I have been signed for my experience in the peloton and there to share my knowledge and go for a few opportunities myself.
“It will be so cool to take the jersey to this new team. They really love national jerseys in the team – they have even offered to make a custom black and white bike if I can win. That would be pretty cool.
“I don’t know much about the course – I’ve not ridden it. It looks like it will suit an allround rider which I think I am – it will be interesting.”:
The road race comprises a 14km loop with each lap including Mossop Rd Hill, with 331m of climbing. The elite women will complete four full laps with their race of 106kms and 1.4km of climbing.
The same loop will be used for the time trial, to offer an all-round examination over a shorter-than-usual timed test of 33.5km.
The time trial is on Friday from 11am with under-19 riders, both male and female, racing over 22.9km with 233m of climbing and all under-23 and elite riders riding a 33.5km lap with 381m of climbs.
The Under-19 females lead-off the road racing on Saturday over 82kms from 8.30am, ahead of the Under-19 males, and Under-23 and Elite females over 106kms from 1pm.
Sunday’s action focusses on the under-23 and Elite males racing over 178kms from 10am.
The event is supported by Aon and the South Waikato District Council.