NZ Cyclist Ally Wollaston Wins Great Ocean Road Race Twice

Ally Wollaston wasn't sure she could even finish the race, but the 25-year-old New Zealand cyclist crossed the finish line first anyway.

Wollaston claimed victory at the Great Ocean Road Race near Melbourne on Saturday, becoming the first person—man or woman—to win the World Tour event two years in a row. She timed her final sprint to perfection, outpacing British runner-up Josie Nelson and Spain's Mireia Benito after nearly four hours of racing.

The win came despite serious challenges. Wollaston had been battling sickness since the Tour Down Under in Adelaide last month, where she won the first two stages before fading. On Saturday's hilly course in Victoria, she struggled on the climbs and told her FDJ-United Suez teammates over race radio that she wasn't sure she could make it.

That's when her team stepped in. They stayed with her, paced her back to the main pack, and kept encouraging her through the race radio. "I had a few tough words in my race radio saying that I could do it," Wollaston said after the race.

Their belief paid off. Despite telling her teammates "I'm really struggling" after the first lap, Wollaston found her strength when it mattered most. Her team set her up perfectly for the final sprint, and she delivered.

The Ripple Effect

Wollaston's victory shows what's possible when teammates truly support each other. Her FDJ-United Suez squad didn't just help her physically—they kept her grounded mentally when doubt crept in. That kind of teamwork creates champions.

The win also marks a dream start to Wollaston's 2026 season. "Every year, you want to do better than the last, and I've already started this year better than last year," she said, looking forward to carrying the momentum through the rest of her racing calendar.

New Zealand now has a cycling champion who's proven she can win even when everything isn't perfect—a lesson that goes far beyond the bike.