ROAD WORLDS | Spratt ready for TT challenge; Eddy & Magennis set to debut

Spratt in action at 2018 Worlds - Photo Casey Gibson

Preview for women's, under 23 and junior time trials at the 2019 UCI Road World Championships in Yorkshire. 

WOMEN'S 

• ​Amanda Spratt (Mitchelton-Scott)
• Tuesday 24 September - Start Time 3:21.30pm (12:21.30am AEST)
• Women's Course - 32km - worlds.yorkshire.com/women-elite-individual-time-trial
• Live broadcast via SBS OnDemand / Cycling Central from 2340 AEST 

In 2004, a seventeen-year-old debutant from the Blue Mountains found the podium of the UCI Road World Championships in Italy with bronze in the junior women’s time trial. 

Almost 15 years later to the day, the now 32-year-old Amanda Spratt (Mitchelton-Scott) will have another crack at a World Championship time trial podium when she lines up in the women’s race on Tuesday.

"This will be my first time trial at the World Championships since being a junior in 2004, and I have great memories of that, I got the bronze medal,” said Spratt. "This is one event I get really nervous about, but I think it is a good challenge for me. I think I am ready for it, I wouldn’t have put my hand up for it if I didn’t think it was the right time." 

Spratt will tackle a 32.5km course from Ripon to Harrogate on Tuesday afternoon, with Spratt’s Mitchelton-Scott teammate Annemiek van Vleuten a hot favourite as the two-time reigning world champion.

"I have nothing to lose, I am not putting a number on the result, I just want to have a really good performance and I will be happy with that,” said Spratt who arrived in Yorkshire on Saturday to prepare for the varying course. “The first twelve kilometres is not super interesting, but after that, it gets quite up and down and a bit technical, so it has been good to see it and get a good feel for it.”

Following the time trial, 2018 World Championship silver medallist Spratt will spearhead a superb women’s outfit on Saturday seeking to win Australia’s first ever women’s road world title. Spratt will line up with Tiffany Cromwell (Canyon-SRAM), Lucy Kennedy (Mitchelton-Scott), Lauren Kitchen (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope), Brodie Chapman (Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank), Chloe Hosking (Ale-Cipollini) and Jessica Allen (Mitchelton-Scott) in the 150km race. 

"I love being back in the green and gold, and being in the Aussie team environment is great, you always feel so supported. And you kind of get that extra buzz when you’re out riding in this kit," Spratt said. "I look forward to when the other Aussie girls get here and we can start looking forward to the road race on Saturday."

#Yorkshire2019 “This is one event I get really nervous for, but I think it is a really good challenge for me. I think I am ready for it, I wouldn’t have put my hand up for it if I didn’t think it was the right time.“ @AmandaSpratt on the @Yorkshire2019 ITT. #auscyclingteam pic.twitter.com/e1luqiELUi

— AusCyclingTeam (@AusCyclingTeam) September 22, 2019

 
UNDER 23

• Liam Magennis (Drapac-Cannondale Holistic Development Team) ​
• Tuesday 24 September - Start Time 11.29am (8.29pm AEST)
• Under 23 Course - 32km - worlds.yorkshire.com/men-u23-individual-time-trial/
• Live broadcast via SBS OnDemand / Cycling Central from 1910 AEST

Reigning Australian & Oceania champion Liam Magennis (Drapac-Cannondale Holistic Development Team) will make his Australian team debut in Tuesday’s under 23 time trial. 

"The course is good, it looks fast, pretty flat, a little bit technical, will be interested to see how it rides in the wet,” said Magennis, referring to the wet weather which is forecast for the region. “I am really keen to race."
  
 
JUNIOR 

• Patrick Eddy
• Monday 23 September @ 3.22pm 
• Junior Course - 27.6km - worlds.yorkshire.com/men-junior-individual-time-trial

Debutant Patrick Eddy, the reigning Australian champion, will be the first Australian rider on course when he takes on the 27.6km junior time trial on Monday. 

"I had a pretty nice recon of the course on Saturday," said Eddy. "I was a bit worried about a few of those corners, but I am now more confident with the course. And that is probably going to be one of the main factors in doing well on Monday." 

#Yorkshire2019 Reigning Australian champion in the time trial and the road race Patrick Eddy chats ahead of his Australian Team debut. Eddy will be the first rider out on course at the World Champs for Australia when he takes on the TT on Monday. #AusCyclingTeam pic.twitter.com/VUqhDAm3e0

— AusCyclingTeam (@AusCyclingTeam) September 21, 2019