Tara Murray
Lauretta Hanson may be part of one of the biggest cycling team’s in the world, but the Macedon Ranges Cycling Club will always feel like home.
Hanson, who has just completed the Tour de France, will represent Australia at a second World Championships later this month.
It will be the second time that Hanson has been part of the Australian team for a World Championships.
“It’s always an incredible feeling to race for your country,” she said. “There’s a lot of pride in being able to pull on the green and gold and represent Australia overseas.
“This is my second World Championships, but the feeling is the same. You always want to give your best for everyone at home and for everyone who has supported you to get there.”
Hanson, who is part of the seven member women’s road team, said she expected the course in Glasgow to be a difficult one.
She’s hoping to help her teammates come away with some success.
“It’s definitely not an easy circuit,” she said. “The final laps are really technical with some tough climbs and there are some strong countries like the Netherlands and Italy that have big favourites to win.
“In saying that, we also have a strong and well rounded team. I’ve just finished a big block of racing and I’m in good form so I’m looking forward to giving my best for the team goals.”
The roads of Glasgow are a long way from the velodrome at Kyneton where Hanson learned to ride.
She said even though she lives in Fern Hill now, that the Macedon Ranges are still home.
“I learned how to race at the Kyneton Velodrome and have many memories as a junior racing around the Ranges,” she said.
“I’ve been racing since I was eight years old. I started with Macedon Ranges Cycling club at the Kyneton velodrome and have slowly worked my way from local, state, national and now international racing.
“My Mum’s family used to race and my mum was national champion in 1981. Then my grandfather was hit and killed in 2000.
“My family moved away from the sport then, but the local club went through a bit of a revival around 2003 and my cousins and I picked up racing again.
“At that point, I was too young or didn’t know about my family’s history in the sport. I just loved riding my bike.”
Hanson said she would love to represent Australia at the Olympics next year, while she also focuses on the spring classics.
But her main aim when on the bike is quite simple.
“Always my goal is just to enjoy it,” she said. “My role within my team is as a domestique (a worker) and I take pride in being able to give everything for my teammates and helping them win big races.”
