Racing
Squad wins best team competition at Tour Down Under
Georgia Williams third on final podium
January 17, 2023
It’s been an incredible three days of racing for our squad at Tour Down Under with Georgia Williams taking third overall and the team winning the best team competition.
Coming into today’s final stage, our squad knew that the race would come down to the Corkscrew climb and the furious descent to the finish line. The peloton shed riders with each pedal stroke up the Corkscrew but Georgia was supported by teammates Abi Smith and Krista Doebel-Hickok.
“I was not feeling super great on the climb,” Georgia says, “but Abi came past me and set a really good pace. She paced me all the way back up to the group in front and I went with them all the way to the finish. It was perfect.”
Sport director Daniel Holm Fodder sees today’s result as an ideal building block for the year.
“For Georgia to finish on the GC podium is very big for her but also for the team. It’s super important for the team to start the season like this,” he says.
It was a true team effort for Georgia to reach the podium and the results showed it. While teams are allowed to have six riders, injury meant we lined up with four riders. Rather than let that be discouraging, it only further motivated Abi, Georgia, Krista, and Lauren to dig deep in support of one another. This commitment to one another placed three of our riders in the top ten and earned us the title of best team at the 2023 Tour Down Under.
The Tour Down Under always offers an exciting start to the season and this year was no exception. Crosswinds on the first day put the peloton on edge but our quartet kept their cool with Lauren and Georgia both finishing safely towards the front of the bunch. The following day took the peloton through the rolling hills east of Adelaide. The stage was hard to control with so many teams hungry for a result but our team kept their focus. Lauren rode in the late breakaway which removed pressure from our shoulders before Abi led Georgia out for the final sprint. Georgia finished second on the stage which launched her to second overall. On today’s final stage, Lauren covered the early moves and Abi and Krista looked after Georgia on the Corkscrew. Two riders up the road meant the overall podium was out of contention but Georgia powered to the front of the bunch sprint and finished the day third, securing third place on the final podium.
“Considering we started the race with just four, it’s all the sweeter,” Abi says.
Congratulations for an amazing start to 2023!