Allie Wollaston first competed in the Santos Women's Tour Down Under in 2020, her first international race. It was a very different experience from her start to the 2023 season at the Schwalbe Classic Criterium on Saturday.

"Every day I finished about half an hour late," recalled Wollaston, who is racing for the New Zealand national team.

"It hurt me a lot mentally. I really didn't enjoy it."

The difference of three years in cycling is remarkable, and the New Zealand criterium champion started this year's race in great form. In the Schwalbe Classic, he won the breakaway with a furious sprint that kept the leading group of riders at bay.

"I'm really proud to be back here and racing so well, and I'm really looking forward to the rest of the week," Wollaston told Cyclingnews.

Things have changed a lot for Wollaston since the first race in 2020, when she was just 19 years old.

She has gained a wealth of international experience and a series of track races, winning two international events in 2022, the Grand Prix du Morbihan Féminin and the first stage of the Tour of Lotto Belgium. This year she is with AG Insurance Soudal Quickstep.

Despite all this experience, Wollaston did not know what to expect in his first road race of the new season.

"It was a surprise. Winning the criterium was a big confidence booster.

"At least I knew I could sprint.

This is especially important in Sunday's first stage, the 110.4 km from Glenelg to Aldinga, which is expected to be a stage for sprinters.

"I think it's the type of Tour where you take it one day at a time," Wollaston said.

"It's really, really hot here and I'm not 100% used to it, so I'll decide how I feel that day.