Amanda Spratt has capped off a super season with a silver medal in the UCI Road World Championships in Austria.
The second placing on September 29 lifts the 31-year-old Springwood cyclist’s women’s World Tour ranking to fourth behind Dutch champions Annemiek van Vleuten, Marianne Vos and Anna van der Breggen.
In the hilly 151km race in Innsbruck, Austria, Spratt pushed on through a crash, and severe cramping in the last 20km, to finish three minutes 42 seconds behind winner Anna van der Breggen.
“I am really happy and proud of my performance and silver medal. It’s the first time I went into the World Championships as the sole leader for Australia so it was very special to have such a great and supportive team around me to help me achieve this goal,” Spratt said.
“I don’t think I could have done anything differently during the race to change the outcome. Anna van der Breggen crossed the line a very worthy world champion.”
Choosing to focus on the world championships and other European World Tour races instead of the Commonwealth Games has clearly paid off for Spratt.
“I have made some tough decisions this year such as skipping the Commonwealth Games but I also think this really challenged me and made me believe in myself more,” she said.
“I’ve been able to work really well with my coach Gene Bates to prepare in the best way possible.”
Spratt’s parents Graeme and Lyn were there to watch their daughter cross the finish line.
“It was so great to have Mum and Dad there in Innsbruck. They always have been and always will be my two biggest supporters so to be able to share this with them was really special,” Spratt said.
