Cat Ferguson ended her Junior profession on an emotional excessive with a second world title in Zurich, confirming the unimaginable abilities she’s going to now take to the ladies’s WorldTour peloton with Movistar.
The British rider from Yorkshire received the junior time trial title in Zürich on Tuesday after which received a second rainbow jersey – the one she actually needed – within the rain-soaked junior girls’s highway race.
She’s now received 4 world titles in 2024, including the staff pursuit and the omnium titles to her highway titles. She was additionally a detailed second within the Cyclocross World Championships.
“I labored so laborious for this all 12 months, for this race particularly,” Ferguson mentioned to Cyclingnews and different media after pulling on the rainbow jersey.
“I knew going into the race that I would not be pleased with something however gold. It was simply pure reduction that I’d achieved it. I additionally do not must really feel the feelings I felt final 12 months.”
Last 12 months in Glasgow, Ferguson completed a disappointing second after France’s Julie Bego received alone with a late assault.
“This 12 months I’ve been tremendous constant and that is why Worlds was just a little bit scary for me. I knew that I used to be the massive favorite and it was virtually my race to lose.”
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As Ferguson crossed the end line in Zürich, she emotionally pointed to the sky after which hugged her dad and mom, who’ve performed such an enormous position in her profession.
‘My mum handed away once I was youthful, I used to be solely two when she died, so possibly it was a tribute to her. I’ve my different mum and he or she’s 100% my mum now. I really feel fortunate to have two mums,” she mentioned.
As her palmarès confirms, Ferguson at all times needs to win.
Her ‘worst’ results of 2024 in a junior race is third within the Santini Women’s Otley Grand Prix close to her dwelling in Yorkshire. She was seventh in an elite race with Movistar, but additionally received a stage on the AG Tour de la Semois in Belgium.
Ferguson won’t race once more as a junior and can rapidly head to Belgium for the Binche-Chimay-Binche for Movistar on Tuesday.
“I’m prepared for a brand new chapter however I’m closing out the 2 years with a fantastic race,” she mentioned, clearly trying to her future within the elite girls’s peloton. “I’m extremely grateful to my dad and mom, British Cycling, Movistar, and my home staff Shibden Hopetech Apex, it has been a lot enjoyable.
“I heard Lotte Kopecky yesterday say on the Junior Conference that the junior years are the most effective years of your life and that you must get pleasure from them. I agree, for me, it was all about studying.”
Ferguson has signed a three-year contract with Movistar and can certainly be a future staff chief however is staying humble for now.
“I’ve bought nonetheless three extra races to do with Movistar, so the low season is just not for some time but, however I’ll have fun tonight,” she mentioned. “I’ve been the chief for the previous two years, so now it is my time to play a staff position and learn to try this.
“The elite races I’ve achieved have been laborious for me, so there isn’t a strain going into the following few years. I simply wish to be taught and be taught from the most effective and from my teammates and see what occurs. Movistar has been so welcoming. I’m so pleased with the staff.”