Wollongong's Sarah Cliff climbs to new heights

Woonona’s Sarah Cliff was recently named Australian Under 15 Road Cycling Champion of Champions after finishing second in the criterium and individual time trial events and third in the road race and she’s eyeing off a home World Championships as a long-term goal.

“It was pretty exciting for me being named Champion of Champions, it was amazing,” Cliff said. “It was quite a shock, it was something I was training for, but wasn’t something I really thought I could do.

“I want to race at the 2022 World Championships in Wollongong. It was very exciting to hear the announcement and it gives me something I can look forward to. Even if I don’t race, I’ll still be able to watch the event.” 

The victory capped a successful year for the 14-year-old after she also took out the national junior road series. Cliff trains seven to eight times a week and she credited the Illawarra Academy of Sport and Illawarra Cycle Club for helping her throughout the season. 

She will now hope to finish the year off on a high when she competes at the annual Wollongong Criterium in mid-November around Flagstaff Hill.

"It has been a big year. The year’s gone so fast and the results are definitely something I wouldn’t have imagined last year. 

“A lot of my success is thanks to the help of all my coaches, my parents, all the other outstanding people that have helped me. It hasn't been unnoticed, they have all helped me and with all the training it's definitely helped. 

“It will be the first time I’ve done the Wollongong Criterium, but it should be a lot of fun.”

Cliff is a versatile cyclist who has excelled on both the road and the velodrome, however it’s the road racing that she hopes to pursue long term.

“I like the scenery of road racing a lot more and the hills are more my style.”