Allie Wollaston had just undergone surgery to remove metal from her wrist and wasn't even sure if she would compete in the New Zealand Road Championships, but that uncertainty turned into a two-day victory as the 22-year-old will wear the black and white jersey of national champion in all three events.

The 22-year-old AG Insurance Soudal Quickstep rider, who won her second consecutive national title in the criterium last month, took on the under-23 time trial on Friday and not only won the U23 title but also set the fastest times in all categories. Then on Saturday, in the combined category road race, he won the national champion's silver cedar jersey, beating not only his U23 rivals but also the elite riders.

"The key today was to race really carefully," Wollaston said in a Cycling New Zealand media release. 'After yesterday's performance in the time trial, I just tried to ride aggressive and smart.' [Tactics were key today. Tactics were important today. The girls were all over the place and attacked right from the start.

Wollaston defeated Georgia Williams (EF Education-Tibco-SVB) in the dash to the finish, with Charlotte Lucas in third. Next rider was Ella Willey, also in the U23 category, with Kate McCarthy in fifth. It wasn't until more than seven and a half minutes later that Georgia Dunford (Cope Hi-Tech Products) won a sprint from the pack to take sixth place ahead of Mikaela Drummond (Zarf).

Williams finished second, but according to Cycling New Zealand, the elite title went to her. However, the 2023 national champion jersey will be worn by Wollaston, not Williams: "If an U23 athlete wins the combined race, they will be awarded the NZ national champion jersey. The Elite 1 athlete will not receive the jersey. Top 3 medals will be awarded to both categories."

The top three medals will be awarded to the top three in both categories.

The overall win was of course Williams' main goal, but the addition of Saturday's elite title to her results was at least somewhat comforting: the 29-year-old has now won four road race titles and five elite time trial titles.

"The top of the course was very fast and hard racing," she said. But I am honored to have won the elite title and to be tied for the lead in road race and time trial wins."

The women's elite and under-23 road race consisted of four laps of a rugged South Waikato course on Saturday, held in mild summer conditions. The race was 105.9 km long with an elevation gain of 1,354 m

. The field was split early in the race, with Kate McCarthy, Charlotte Lucas, Georgia Perry, and U23 riders Willie and Wollaston nearly 50 seconds behind the pack at the end of the first lap.

Perry dropped back on lap 2, leaving Georgia Williams and Henrietta Christie as the only riders within a minute of the lead group of four.

On lap 3, there were still six riders in front of a group more than five minutes behind, but Lucas was leading, with Christie close behind, and Willie, McCarthy, and Williams in a group about 45 seconds from the front. Attacks were repeated, but by the last lap the leading group was united except for Christie. As a result, the title was a five-man sprint competition, a perfect scenario for the fast-running Wollaston.

Eli Tregidoga (ilabb Fruzio Devo) finished first in the U19 men's 105.9km race to take the junior title, while Georgia Simpson (Bike Manawatu) won the U19 women's 81.8km race.

The elite and U23 men's road races will be the final events of Sunday's New Zealand Road Championships, with athletes completing seven laps of a course totaling 178.2 km and 2,347 m in elevation. The men's race was cancelled in 2022 due to the remnants of Cyclone Dovi, but a 10:00 a.m. (local time) start could avoid the rain and winds caused by Tropical Cyclone Gabriel. Sunday's forecast calls for rain in the afternoon, with increasing southeasterly winds, gusting to ...