Kiwi rider aims high
Talented Kiwi cyclist Mikayla Harvey thought her season was done for, when she returned home from Italy during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Riding on the familiar roads of Wanaka, the Equipe Paule Ka rider definitely did not think that just a few months later she would be back in Europe securing a top-five finish at the biggest race in women’s cycling.
‘‘When I came home, I thought the whole season would be over. When you think that it’s like ‘oh my goodness, what am I focusing towards?’ But I just knew I had to do what I kept doing and I love training, love being fit, so I just kept that as my main focus,’’ Harvey said.
‘‘Now I have ridden the Giro and now riding at the worlds which is amazing because a few months ago I didn’t think it would actually happen.’’
The 22-year-old will be hoping to continue her super form at the UCI Road World Championships in Imola, Italy, this week after producing the best result of her young career when she finished fifth at the Giro Rosa on Sunday.
Harvey finished third on stage eight and took home the white jersey as the best young rider – capping off a highlysuccessful nine days for Harvey and her Kiwi team-mate Niamh Fisher-Black, who finished second on the final stage.
Given the uncertain outlook of her second professional season – Equipe Paule Ka had to crowdfund to keep their 2020 campaign going when Covid-19 hit – Harvey said she was delighted to make up for lost time and took particular satisfaction in the fact that she was able to drop some of the world’s best riders.
‘‘I was really motivated to go for the young rider jersey,’’ she said.
‘‘What surprised me more was coming fifth on GC. It was such a surreal feeling being there and racing with those top girls.
‘‘The result on stage eight coming third was the most incredible day I have had on the bike. I ended up dropping so many great climbers and fighting for a podium was an amazing feeling.’’
Harvey will take part in the 32km time trial at the World Championships today before teaming up with Fisher-Black and Mitchelton-Scott’s Georgia Williams in the 144km road race on Sunday.
Although the New Zealand team will be outnumbered in the peloton, Harvey said it could actually play in the trio’s favour on a difficult course featuring more than 2750m of climbing.
‘‘I am keen to play a nice part in the race and be competitive. I will be fighting for a podium spot,’’ she said.
‘‘We can hide in the peloton and other teams won’t be looking for us. We can more easily get into breakaways or sit and hide in the bunch until the finale and we can start launching.
‘‘We won’t be able to control the race but we can definitely play an important role.’’
A New Zealand rider has not finished inside the top-10 in the women’s road race since Linda Villumsen’s seventh placing in 2014.