30 Oct Broken Collar Bones Wont Stop Georgia
Re-signing one of the best time trialist and most resilient riders in the team was a key part of Mike Greer Homes Womens Cycling team’s 2019 plan. Georgia’s huge experience base domestically and internationally and her consistency in races will be a huge asset to the team. Catterick’s National U23 Time Trial title, National U23 Road Race 4th and Oceania U23 Road Race 3rd places this year are testament to her amazing talent.
Georgia loves to ride a bike and nothing seems to get in the way of this dream. Two crashes resulting in two broken collar bones would be enough for many riders to question why they ride but not so for Georgia. Just as importantly the way Georgia coped with this adversity while in foreign countries remaining supportive and up beat around her team mates shows what a great personality and team focus she has. Manager Harvey was not surprised to see Georgia on the start line in the last round of the Calder Stewart series only 6 weeks after her last fracture “To hear that Georgia was racing the Hell Of the South so soon after her last crash in Toscana would have been surprising for any other rider – but not Georgia. She takes adversity in her stride and gets on with the business of riding her bike. This race for many is daunting enough, but so soon after a major crash takes real guts and Georgia has plenty of that!”
With such an amazing time trial ability Georgia is a real asset to the team and is a skill that Harvey is very passionate about for his team “Often riders overlook the importance of time trialing. Unless they are naturally good at it they don’t work it and this will hurt their cycling careers. Georgia is a great example to other riders in the team on how time trialing is a critical aspect of not only tours but road racing itself. Countless times we have seen riders such as Georgia and Mikayla use this to their advantage to create a break, bridge to a break or regain contact with a lead group”. Harvey recounts how Georgia used this during the Oceania champs to re-join the leading bunch in the final lap “It was impressive to watch two riders from your team using their time trialing skills to work their guts out together and regain the leading group after a split from the final hill”.
Add to this her massive endurance capacity and her natural climbing ability it is easy to see why MGHWCT see Georgia so important to the team for 2019.
Harvey also believes Georgia has a lot to add from a leadership perspective both on and off the bike. “Georgia definitely has a calming influence on the riders around her. Her easy going and friendly nature naturally draws riders around her. Her combined experience and natural ability to read a race are strong qualities that will help Georgia be a great team captain and this is something we want to help develop during the season”.
MGHWCT are excited to have Georgia on board again in 2019 and hope to make it her best year yet!
To get a further insight into our riders we asked a few questions, here is what Georgia had to say:
Why do you love cycling?
“I love the places it can take you and the close friendships you make. I love the self awarding feeling you get from having a good race to completing a hard training week.”
What are your most memorable experiences so far in your cycling career?
“Junior Worlds 2015- The atmosphere was amazing, I found it so motivating and it certainly made me hooked on cycling
Tour of California 2017- First World Tour race and many ups and downs in this tour, It was a great experience and I learn’t a lot from this tour!
Tour of Thailand 2018- It Was so cool seeing the different culture, probably wont forget this trip either after going home in a sling.”
Who is your cycling idol?
“Anna van der Breggen”
What is the ultimate race you would like to experience?
“Giro Rosa”
What is your favourite Womens UCI team?
“Whatever Team I ride for ”
What is your favourite indulgent food?
“I have a big weak spot for a good caramel slice”
What do you hope to accomplish with MGHWCT in 2019
“A year of working well as a team and achieving each of our personal goals as well as the team’s goals. I hope to use what I’ve learnt racing overseas in our team situation to get good results individually and as a team.”