Presented by Wests Illawarra
Aussie rider Grace Brown has endured a nail-biting second place in the opening event of the Wollongong World Championships – the Women’s Individual Time Trial.
Holding the lead and sitting in the hot seat for over an hour, Brown watched the monitor and enjoyed rousing support from local fans as eventual winner Ellen Van Dijk pulled off an impressive win.
“I honestly didn’t think I would win it, I was so surprised when I crossed the line,” said a genuinely surprised van Dijk.
Her third world title in a long career, van Dijk said the course was not ideal for her and she had not contemplated the Australian win.
“It didn’t really suit me, I’m honestly surprised,” she said after storming home for the victory.
“I can’t quite process a third world title yet,” she continued. “It’s quite surprising, I haven’t had the best preparation with not really riding for the past month.”
Grateful to have finished in the Top 3, Brown said her goal had always been the podium.
“My goal was to be on the podium and my dream was to win the race … I achieved that goal and can still aim towards that dream,” she said after the opening event of the World Champs.
“It would have been amazing to win on home soil, but it was still a really special day … so I’m satisfied,” she continued.
For more of Grace Brown’s post-ride comments see the live video below.
With the Under 23’s also racing the same course, Italian rider Vittorian Guazzini won the Women’s U-23 Rainbow Jersey to be the inaugural winner of the jersey.
Elite Women’s TT Top 3
1 Ellen van Dijk
2 Grace Brown
3 Marlen Reusser
This World Championships update is presented by Wests Illawarra – Visit them at 1 Hargreaves St Unanderra. More at https://www.westsillawarra.com.au
