Over the past week the Australian has given exclusive insight into her home world championships campaign
“Excited – and a bit nervous.” These are Brown’s emotions a few days after landing back in Australia, following a strong 2022 World Tour campaign. In the two months before the world championships, Brown had collected a time trial gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, victory in the La Périgord one-day race and a stage win at Challenge by La Vuelta. She has the form to win the rainbow jersey – but, equally, has to carry the weight of expectations.
The Covid protocols meant that early plans for Guardian Australia to physically embed with the team, as at prior world championships on the track and road, were off the cards. These interviews were all conducted by phone, except one in-person interview following a press conference. The Australian team were masked-up at every public appearance; vigilance that suddenly seemed prudent when there was an infection in the peloton, with the Netherlands’ Demi Vollering withdrawing from competition.
The tension in the air is palpable as the final riders roll out onto the course. Brown’s time compares favourably to Annemiek van Vleuten, a two-time time trial world champion, and the rainbow jersey seems within grasp. “Wow,” Brown recalls thinking at the time. “That’s a big difference. Either I’m on an absolute flyer, or she’s having a bad day.”
Brown on her way to a fourth-place finish in the women's individual time trial at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.Attention now turns to the road race. Brown has been doing light sessions on the bike to keep the legs ticking over, and cheering on the Australian juniors in their own races. The silver medal provides a confidence boost – her form is clearly good. “I’m confident in what I’ve prepared,” she says. “I hope it can come together. But anything could happen.
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