Australia’s Felicity Wilson-Haffenden faced a disappointing finish in the under-23 women’s time trial at the UCI Road World Championships in Rwanda, where a pacing error cost her a shot at a medal. The 20-year-old, who had previously been the 2023 Junior world champion, placed fourth after initially showing promise by recording the second fastest times at both intermediate checkpoints.
Wilson-Haffenden struggled on the final Côte de Kimihurura cobbled climb, ultimately finishing 2 minutes and 21 seconds behind the new world champion, Zoe Bäckstedt of Great Britain. She was only 11 seconds shy of third-placed Federica Venturelli from Italy and 31 seconds behind Viktória Chladoňová of Slovakia.
“I felt really good in the beginning, but quite clearly, I made a big pacing error,” Wilson-Haffenden explained in a post-race interview with Eurosport. “When I hit the cobbles, I got stuck and couldn’t find the gear again.” Despite her heartache over the result, she expressed pride in her performance, acknowledging that she executed 95% of the race well but fell short in the critical final moments.
A key decision in her race strategy involved her choice to use a 1x single-speed chainring, which limited her gear options. “It’s something I need to go back and look at and see if I made the right choice to run a single ring,” she said. “In hindsight, maybe with the explosion I had, it was the wrong choice.” Wilson-Haffenden noted her desire to win, stating, “I came to win, sent my bike up to win, and raced to win. But in the end, I just fell short.”
Wilson-Haffenden demonstrated resilience and maturity in addressing her disappointment. At just 20, she has several years ahead to compete for the newly established under-23 world title. Reflecting on her performance, she remarked, “I did the first 20 km perfectly, as I wanted. In the last two kilometres, I fell at the final hurdle.” She remains optimistic about her future, adding, “For sure, I take confidence from the fact I’m there and I’m strong. Next time I’ll look to make one less error.”
Her experience at the championship has provided valuable lessons, positioning her well for future competitions. As she continues to develop as an athlete with the Lidl-Trek WorldTour team, Wilson-Haffenden’s performance in Rwanda is a reminder of her potential on the international stage.
As the inaugural UCI Road World Championships take place on African soil, the event has captured global attention. Cycling enthusiasts can follow the latest developments and analyses from Rwanda as competitors vie for the coveted rainbow jerseys.
