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Having only stepped out of the junior ranks at the end of 2015
Georgia Catterick has started her time in the elite category
on a strong note claiming the under 23 Oceania time trial
title.
After competing at the Junior World Championships last
September finishing 24th in the time trial Catterick stepped
up to the elite category at the Tour of Bright last December
finishing ninth overall.
The 19 year old who is coached by former world and
Commonwealth Games champion Greg Henderson, continued her
strong start to her elite career with a fourth place finish in
the time trial at the New Zealand Championships. Catterick was
left wondering what might have been after being forced to
restart after being lead the wrong way.
A week later Catterick lined up at the Santos Women's Tour in
what would be her first ever UCI race. While a mechanical on
the opening day took her out of contention for the young
riders jersey, Catterick understands the experience will prove
more valuable in the long term.
The busy block of racing across Australia in New Zealand in
December and January just out of junior left Catterick tired
and lacking motivation ahead of the Oceania Championships.
While held together with the elite the under 23 category gave
Catterick something to target.
Catterick's season has temporarily been put on hold with a
broken clavicle following a training crash this week. "I'm
hoping to still be able to race the Mersey Valley tour as I
enjoyed this tour last year," Catterick said on a potential return
date.
"For the rest of 2016 I want to get some good results in the
NRS races, hopefully get starts in a couple more UCI tours,
and get as much racing experience as I can."
Raced at the World Championships last year in the
junior time trial and road race what was the experience like?
It was the best/mind blowing experience I've had. Fair to say
I had very little idea of what the world level was like. We
found out around a week before leaving that the Road Race was
shortened to 60 km, so there wasn't a moment where I felt like
the paced eased off. I had never been exposed to such
fast/hard racing before apart from racing a couple NRS Tours
but a tour is different to a 60k Road Race. I'd say now I've
experienced worlds it has given me a different/ more
determined mindset to train harder than I have before. I
didn't get the results at worlds that I wanted but it was the
best experience I could of asked for and has helped the
transition from junior to senior that bit easier.
Riding for Roxsolt Ladies team in 2016 what made you
join the team?
When Kelvin Rundle told me about developing the Roxsolt team
for both Australians and Kiwi's, racing the NRS and seeking
invites for a couple UCI tours I jumped at the opportunity as
I thought it would be the next big thing for me to get some
more racing under my belt. Roxsolt Ladies has an awesome
atmosphere/ feeling about it, the team all gets on really
well. We have a lot of fun while developing as a team and I
couldn't ask for better organisation.
Started the 2015 season and your first in elite
category with fourth in the time trial at the New Zealand
Championships. 23 seconds off the podium happy with your
performance?
I was gutted to be so close to third after being lead the
wrong way, and needing a restart. A medal would of been nice
but I can't complain with my performance and was very happy to
be the fastest under 23 rider.
Followed that up with ninth in the road race part of
the main chase group behind the three podium finishes how did
you find racing with the elites?
It was a tough race, I had done the training but I had gone
into nationals focusing on the time trial so I was a little
nervous on how things would go. Racing mainly elite races as a
junior definitely made things easier to have an understanding
on how the race might unfold.
A week later you lined up at the Santos Women's Tour
your first UCI race what were your goals heading in?
Having Elite Nationals under my belt helped calm the nerves. I
didn't have huge expectations on myself. I just knew I wanted
to race to my full potential and to challenge myself against
some big names/teams. I did want to have a crack at the under
23 jersey but losing five minutes after a mechanical in the
first stage made it pretty hard to do so. It was my first
elite UCI tour, I didn't really know how I'd go.
Unlucky with a mechanical on the opening day but put
in a big attack on the final day how did the race go for you
and what did you learn?
It was an amazing experience. The pace was constantly fast and
I honestly loved it. I had to learn fast how to stay up the
front, even just simple things like getting a bottle from the
car (had never done it before) who to follow, got to know more
about team tactics. I had never experience racing in heat up
to 44 degrees. It was a shock to the system. I felt
comfortable in the bunch all tour, I tried to get in a couple
breaks but nothing that would stick so in the last stage I
knew I couldn't win a sprint a finish so I'd thought Id give
it a crack to see how long I could stay out front for, it was
cool to be leading a race like that.
Then competed at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
how did the race go for you?
It was another learning experience in the side winds, and
teams putting everyone in the gutter. I learnt the importance
of staying close to the front in the side winds, as I was too
far back and got shelled. I was proud of my teammate Ruby
Livingstone that day, as she had a great race, finishing 14th
in a tough field.
After a busy start to the year what were your
ambitions for the Oceania Championships?
Due to work commitments I was tired going into the Oceania
champs, and lost a bit of motivation because of it. When I
heard there was an under 23 category, it made me think I had
something to go for and I wanted to win that. I also wanted to
see how I went against the elite riders.
Claimed the under 23 Oceania time trial title how did
you find the course and what does it mean to be the under 23
Oceania Champion?
The length of it was daunting, coming from junior time trials.
Also I found it to be a hard course, as there was little flat,
and no places where you could rest.
It's a real confidence booster, and makes me determined to do
well in the elite ranks. I really hope they bring in under 23s
at the world level, as it is a huge step up from juniors to
elite.
Followed that up with bronze in the under 23 road race
good way to finish off the championships with another medal?
Yes - after missing the break, I did the best I could do, and
was stoked to get another medal.
Stepping up to elite from juniors can often be
difficult how have you found it so far and what has been the
biggest challenge?
I am really thankful to have Greg Henderson coaching me, as he
has made the transition a lot easier by giving me guidance for
each race. Stepping up the training has helped me a lot to be
able to handle the harder racing. Every race I am trying to
learn as much as what I can. Also the Roxsolt team has made
the transition easier by giving me constant support as has
Jason Christie who has giving me encouragement during my hard
training days.
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