Best of Memories: Lucy van der Haar (nee Garner)

We ask a double World Junior Champion, Lucy van der Haar (nee Garner) what her Best of Memories are in cycling …

Best of Memories: Lucy van der Haar (nee Garner)

Lucy writes: I think one of my best memories was winning my first World Championship title on the road. I went into that race not knowing where I would stand against the rest, so to go across the line with my hands in the air was an incredible feeling. My Dad and Grandad were both there. My Grandad was a racing cyclist himself and that was one of the first, if not the first race he came to watch me in, so he has always been a lucky charm I think.

I remember being nervous and yawning a lot of the start line (giving my secret away there. The more yawning, the more nervous I am haha). I actually crashed in the race as well. I think it was only after the second or third lap and I remember thinking that it was going to be all over as I was riding soooo hard to get back to the peloton and that it took me so long to recover.

On the last lap, I actually decided to attack. No idea why, because I never attack (typical sprinter ha ha) but I felt good and honestly didn’t believe I’d be able to win the world
championships any other way. I didn’t stay away (expected) and then it came down to the sprint.

I was badly positioned going into the last corner but I knew that didn’t matter because the finish line was going up hill and although you could see the finish, it was still a long way away. That’s where a lot of girls got it wrong. They sprinted super early and I could jump from wheel to wheel and in the last 100-150m make the jump to the line. Dream come true!

Another memory on the bike that stands out for me happened not so long ago in Dubai. It’s been a long road since moving from the junior to the senior ranks in terms of progress and results. I’d lost a lot of confidence in my abilities but last winter I put in a lot of hard work and to win a stage and GC was an amazing feeling and made even more special winning withriders/staff who believed in me.

Thanks Lucy and good luck in 2020 when racing resumes!