THE good news keeps coming as Tasmanian cycling prepares for what could prove the biggest weekend in its illustrious history.
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With the planet’s benchmark rider, 2013 Tour de France champion Chris Froome, due to arrive in Launceston today, another of the state’s glut of talented young riders has been signed up by a pro team.
A day after Macey Stewart’s move to ORICA-AIS was confirmed, her fellow multiple junior world champion Georgia Baker has been snapped up by the Wiggle Honda team.
Like Stewart, Baker will make her team debut in the women’s elite race of Sunday’s Stan Siejka Launceston Cycling Classic, just an hour before Froome, Sky teammate Richie Porte and a host of other ProTour riders contest the star-studded men’s event.
Twenty-year-old Baker, a three-time junior track world champion who finished third in the 2012 criterium, said she was thrilled to be riding her fourth Classic on Sunday as well as tomorrow’s kermesse at Symmons Plains.
“I am so excited to be part of such a professional team and to be riding alongside some amazing riders,’’ she said.
‘‘It is such a great opportunity for me to further my cycling career and to learn and work with some of the best riders in the world.
“It is such a thrill racing in front of my home crowd and this year will be even more fantastic racing with the Wiggle Honda girls.
‘‘Having Froome here just takes it to another level. He and Richie have so much class and I just think the crowds will be amazing and the vibe will be awesome.”
Wiggle Honda’s managing director Rochelle Gilmore removed herself from the team’s UCI roster to make room for Baker.
‘‘During 2014 I constantly heard Cycling Australia’s institute coaches speaking very highly of this Georgia Baker, as an athlete but more impressively, as a person, ’’she said.
‘‘I’m looking forward to meeting Georgia and watching her live up to expectations in front of a home crowd in Launceston this weekend.”
Wiggle Honda took victory in Launceston 2013, through Lauren Kitchen in her last ever appearance in the black and orange jersey, and the team will start the race with the aim of defending its title.
Baker will race alongside compatriots Peta Mullens and Jess Mundy, New Zealander Emily Collins and Great Britain criterium champion Eileen Roe, who has flown south for the Australian summer season, and will also be riding with her new Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling teammates for the first time.
The Launceston Cycling Festival weekend will also feature two nights of the national junior track series at the Silverdome beginning tonight and the Sally’s Ride charity fund-raiser on Sunday.
