The Nominations
Lucy Garner wins back to back road world championships
Event: 2012 UCI Road Race World Championships - Junior women's road race
When: 21 September 2012
Where: Limburg, Netherlands
How it unfolded
Lucy Garner was not favourite to defend the world title she won in 2011 - there were two ascents of the Bemelberg and Cauberg in each of the five laps, the race was not expected to end in a sprint and Garner’s confidence was not high before the event.
But supported by a dedicated team including Elinor Barker, Emily Kay, Molly Weaver and Jessie Walker, Garner was able to remain in the front group throughout.
"This win is a team effort more than anything. The lead out Elinor gave me was fantastic."
Lucy Garner
Riding as a team not only kept the race together for a sprint finish, but ensured Garner was fresh for the moment. By the time the lead group had ascended the Cauberg for the final time just 1.7km stood between the riders and the finish.
Elinor Barker - herself a world champion after dominating the time-trial - was the only Great Britain rider still with Garner and delivered a perfect lead-out to allow Garner to secure a win which followed in the footsteps of Beijing Olympic gold medallist Nicole Cooke, who scored the same result in 2000 and 2001.
What they said
Garner: "I was nervous before the race, as always, but the course really suited me. We trained a lot in these surroundings to get ready for the hills; especially the Cauberg, which I could take very well.
"This win is a team effort more than anything. The lead out Elinor gave me was fantastic."
Matt Winston (coach): “You go to the world championships and it’s very easy to say you want a result for yourself. To get four other girls to put their result to one side and fully dedicate themselves to one rider is a massive thing at that age. I was really proud of them for doing that.
“The spirit between the girls after the race was fantastic, they were happier than if they’d won the bike race.”
Why should this be the British Cycling's Ride of the Year 2012?
For five junior athletes to replicate a tactic demonstrated by Team Sky at the Tour de France and Team GB during the London 2012 Olympic Games road races would have been fantastic. To then deliver the result two years in a row – on both occasions against adversity – was one of the greatest moments of 2012.
