Baker’s golden touch
Georgia Baker’s rise on the global cycling stage has continued at the UCI Track World Cup, with the Tasmanian adding another gold medal to her 2019 collection, teaming with Annette Edmondson to win the women’s madison title.
THE Olympic hopes of Georgia Baker continue to soar after the Tasmanian star added another gold medal to her 2019 collection in Glasgow.
Baker teamed with Annette Edmondson to take out the women’s madison title on the final night of round two of the UCI Track World Cup. The pair dominated the 120 lap race early, winning five of the first eight sprints held every 10 laps, while figuring in two others, to set up a commanding lead.
And despite a crash by Baker inside the final 15 laps, the duo had a big enough lead to ride away with the win on 40 points, finishing ahead of Great Britain (31) with the Netherlands 12 points further back in third.
“Going into the race we were focused on getting the little things right, wanted to make it simple, focus on the process and hope the result came,” Baker said. “Obviously, it did, we are so happy to take the gold medal and it shows all the hard work back home in Adelaide is working.”
The win continues a stunning season for the 25-yearold, who has overcome the death of her father to a sudden heart attack in 2015 — as well her own heart surgery in 2017 — to firm for the country’s track team at next year’s Tokyo Games.
Baker was part of the team’s pursuit outfit, alongside Edmonson, fellow Tasmanian Amy Cure and Ashlee Ankudinoff, which defeated Great Britain to win gold at the track world cycling championships in March.
She added a silver medal in the madison with Cure at the world championships.
“The Australian women’s endurance squad has been focusing on the Madison in particular over the last couple of months, so this result means a lot not just to us, but the entire squad back home who have been helping us prepare for this track season,” Edmondson said after the Glasgow triumph.
The Australian team’s focus now turns to the World Cup’s fourth round in New Zealand from December 6-8, followed by the Track Cycling World Cup in Brisbane a week later.