Anna Shackley capped an unforgettable 11 days at the inaugural 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships winning a brilliant bronze medal in the U23 Women’s Road Race, the final event of the championships.
With the U23 category incorporated into the Elite Women’s Race, Shackley joined a strong Great Britain team, but knew she had to chance to get her hands on some silverware on home roads, the Glaswegian telling the media beforehand that she could probably ride the course blindfolded!
To the fore up the main climb on the day, Crow Road, Shackley was always attentive, making sure she was in the first 10-20 wheels around the technical city centre circuit, and always looking in control. With the pace these women were flying round the streets, the cream quickly rose to the top, as a lead group of some 20 riders went clear, Anna amongst them.
Whilst the team were supporting Lizzie Deignan, who went on to finish sixth, it emerged that Shackley was one of just three U23s in the group of favourites, meaning barring disaster, she would be taking home a medal.
That group would split further with two laps to go, Anna again finding herself in the second group on the road, with her U23 rivals.
Coming down the finish straight to George Square it was clear it would be a bunch sprint, not something that is Shackley’s natural forte, but she mixed it with the rest of the ladies to come home 17th overall and third U23.
Delighted with her efforts, Shackley said:
"I'm pretty stoked; I didn't know what to expect today on the course but I was just so happy to be racing on roads I grew up riding on. When we got to the course, my legs didn't feel so good, but so neither did everyone else’s, and I just held on and I'm very happy with my bronze medal."
"I've never seen my name written on the ground before and it was very nice to see. I had so many friends that don't cycle watching on the course today and yeah that was really nice. I could hear them cheering me on!”
That medal has a certain symbolism, as it was a Scot that won the very last medal on offer at these groundbreaking championships, and takes the tally of medals won by Scottish riders to 21.
Speaking on the success of the Scottish riders, Scottish Cycling’s Director of Performance and Coaching said:
“It has been tremendous week for our Scottish riders, as they once again delivered when it mattered, in front of home crowds. The world of performance sport is fast moving and I know many our riders will tomorrow look towards Paris, which is now less than a year away, but I think it’s fair to say they should do so with confidence, as we’re in a good place.
“This week has been incredibly inspirational for the Scottish public, but also for the Scottish Cycling community – like our elite riders our work starts again tomorrow, working to harness the potential of our young riders as we look to grow the sport and develop the next generation of world champions.
"On behalf of Scottish Cycling I'd like to say a huge thank you all coaches, clubs, race teams and partners that have supported our current generation of riders. Let’s have some more of the same!”
