A new champion has been crowned in the Elite Women's Road Race in Timaru today, with Aucklander Ella Wyllie edging her way to victory in a sprint finish.
"It is a bit overwhelming right now but it's so epic to bring the jersey to Europe," the 21-year-old rider told 1News.
Wyllie was one of five World Tour riders headlining the event. Kiwi UCI Mountain Bike world champion Sammie Maxwell was a welcome addition after switching codes for the day.
"I've always loved mixing it with the roadies," Maxwell said.
"Mountain biking is a bit of a smaller circuit — we don't have a Netflix series about us and stuff like that so the roadies have pretty high power, so for us little mountain bikers it's pretty epic."
Maxwell, 22, is competing in her first Elite Women's Road Race nationals as training and using it to push her case for this year's Paris Olympics.
It comes after she earned the country a quota spot for Women's Mountain Biking following her Under-23 World Championship title.
But in today's 122km stage, her expectations are realistic.
"I want to make a break or something but there's some really strong females. The field is insane!"
The big incentive at the National Championships is to win and therefore earn the right to wear the national jersey in Europe's pro peloton. A new set of Lycra will be coming Wyllie's way when she lines up in the World Tour this year.
"When I see the kit design for the national jersey then it will hit home. Oh my goodness, it is surreal," Wyllie said.
"It is going to be a big year ahead moving to the World Tour and I will be doing everything I can to do the jersey proud."
But Olympic selection is also lingering in the background. New Zealand has two quota spots for the women's road race in Paris.
"The Olympics has always been something that as a kid I watched people compete in and it would be a very big privilege if I was to go there this year," Wyllie said.
World Tour results being the main consideration for selectors is sure to be a confidence boost.
The Under-19 Women's Road Race, spanning over 73.5km, will be held tomorrow. It'll be followed by the combined Under-23 and Elite Male Road Race, spanning over 196km.
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