Tasmanian cyclists Georgia Baker and Felicity Wilson-Haffenden head to the Commonwealth Games in blistering form after producing eye-catching results on the international stage.

The compatriots were both heavily involved in this week’s Baloise Ladies Tour in Belgium with Wilson-Haffenden finishing third overall while also helping Lidl-Trek claim the team classification.

With a second place in the individual time trial, fourth in the prologue and consistent finishes inside the top 20, Wilson-Haffenden described the podium performance as a significant step forward in her development.

“I am super happy to take third place,” said the multiple road world champion who also celebrated her 21st birthday during the five-day event.

“Two years ago I finished last place in this race so it is a big step forward for me and to have that finally on a results sheet, that really shows me that I am moving in the right direction.”

Wilson-Haffenden was never lower than sixth place on general classification (GC) with her standout ride in the 8.4-kilometre individual time trial in Maaseik, where she was just 13 seconds behind Great Britain’s defending champion and overall winner Zoe Bäckstedt. The Tasmanian sat second until the final 111.4km stage around Mechelen and was nudged into third by just one second.

“The time trials were what made the GC and I’m super proud of my performances there,” she said on the Lidl-Trek website.

“It was a bit of a shame to lose second on the last day but, in the end, sprinters are just that much faster and I couldn’t compete in the sprint.

“As a team we were super strong and we saw that because we took the team classification. I’m super grateful for the belief of the team this week and I’m looking forward to the next races.”

The result continues an excellent year for Wilson-Haffenden who has also won an individual time trial national championship, finished seventh in the young rider classification at the Vuelta España Femenina and now prepares to compete in her maiden Commonwealth Games.

She will be joined in Glasgow by 31-year-old Baker who sat in the top 10 for most of the Baloise Tour before finishing 11th as the top rider for her Liv AlUla Jayco team.

This result followed a series of strong performances this year at national championships and races in the UAE, Belgium, Spain, Denmark and Italy where she secured a podium stage finish at the Giro.

“A week filled with hard racing, plenty of stories, tears and laughs - definitely one for the memory books,” Baker said on Instagram as she left Italy.

“My Giro ended a little earlier than planned after a crash on stage seven. Not how I wanted it to end, but so many highlights to take away from the week including having some of my family over here with me.”

Glasgow will be a third Commonwealth Games for the triple Olympian who starred four years ago in Birmingham by winning gold medals in the points race, team pursuit and road race.

The two Tasmanians are part of Australia’s women’s track endurance team along with South Australian Sophie Edwards, 26, Alyssa Polites, 23, of Victoria, and Claudia Marcks, 22, of ACT.

The 2026 Commonwealth Games begin on Thursday (July 23) and run to Sunday, August 2, with the track cycling taking place at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome from July 30 to August 2.

The women’s track endurance events include the 4000m team pursuit, 4000m individual pursuit, 10km scratch race, 25km points race and elimination race.