It felt like I had already won; simply standing at the start line at the Wollongong World Championships in my home country of Australia. I have raced at three other World Championships, and each time it is something special. However it was a once in a career experience to be racing the biggest race of the year with your friends and family at quite literally at an arm’s length.
Australia is brimming with cycling talent, and we are well represented as a nation in the professional peloton. It was going to be tough to whittle down the talent pool to six riders and have them mesh to form a winning unit. The six riders selected then have to make it to the race. Amongst the omnipresent covid virus, multi day stage races and international travel, there is always a chance that injury or illness could rob a rider of their dream race at the drop of a hat.
So it was certainly a relief to get to the race in one piece, and in good shape. There was a moment at team presentation when I spotted my family in the crowd, all sporting their green and gold garb, that I felt the enormity ripple through my entire body.
That feeling persisted even as the race unfolded, (although the feeling of my legs screaming up Ramah Avenue may have overpowered it slightly). The chants and cheers of the Australian accent were loud and clear, not only in the race, but everyday as we were out training on the surrounding roads, people shouted words of encouragement. It did stir a sense of pride.
On top of that, hearing my international teammates and friends gush over the beaches, the cafes and the rainforests of the Illawarra landscape reminded me just how good we have it in Australia. They also noted that the locals they encountered were positively chatty and chill, and I wholeheartedly agreed.
I hope the experience was one to remember for all.
Written by: Brodie Chapman
