When she heard the announcement a few years ago that the UCI Road World Championships would be held in Wollongong, Australia, the talented rider, not yet even a pro, set her sights on the most familiar home race for New Zealanders.

The 22-year-old's record reveals that she is exciting not only for New Zealand and the U23 title, but also for the elite event to which this category belongs. After a strong mid-season that included a fifth place overall finish at the Giro d'Italia Donne and a youth class win, she broke her collarbone at the Tour of Scandinavia in August.

"I really wanted to be here and I think that's what drove me to get over the injury, get back on the bike, and ride well again. I was hearing about the steep climbs and the big mountains of Mount Keira and I thought, "This is for me."

"I was really excited to be here,"

"I was really excited to be here,"

"I like uphills, I like them steep and hard," Fischer Black said of the 164.3-kilometer race, which includes 2,433 meters of vertical climbing. 'So I've been looking forward to this race for a long time and I'm happy to be here and have a good race.'

A "good race" with historic results. Fischer Black is the first ever U23 women's titleholder in road racing and the first New Zealand-born woman to win a road race title at the World Road Race Championships, along with Linda Vilmsen, who won the time trial in 2015.

Fischer Black won the rainbow jersey as the first U23 athlete to finish in the elite women's race. The New Zealand native finished 12th overall in the chase group behind winner Annemiek van Hulten of the Netherlands. His closest rival, Pfeiffer Josey (GBR), finished 16th, and Ricarda Bauernfind (GER) came in 20th. The addition of this title was hailed last year when it was announced, but the format was not, and Fischer-Black was critical of creating a race within a race.

"I stand by what I said. But I think the sport itself is very much developing in women's cycling and I think this is a step forward. Maybe in a few years there will be a race separate from the U23's."

Since 2025 is the first year that women will have a separate race, the U23 title will be wrapped up in an elite race, with no separate racer quota; an under-23 men's race was introduced in the road world championships in 1996; and the U23 women's race was introduced in the road world championships in 1996.

"Today I just focused on the race and that race was to finish first in the elite as well. I can't forget that I'm wearing the rainbow jersey right now. It's one of the most special feelings you can get from cycling.

"Wearing the rainbow jersey is everyone's dream.

He also rode 164.4 km from Helensburgh along the coast to Wollongong, and from Wollongong through a radial circuit.

"It's been a long time since I've seen a top New Zealand athlete do so well on the road, so I'm really proud to fly Sida into the top class of road cycling," Fisher Black said of the New Zealand team's He said of the performance. It's special to wear the rainbow jersey and stand on the top step with Sida. I'm proud of that."