<\/p>\n
Harris finished eighth in 2024. (Photo: MyWhoosh)<\/p>\n
Tasmania\u2019s Josh Harris placed ninth in the men\u2019s event to book his ticket for the second consecutive year.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaking the final again has been the motivation behind all of my training in the last six months,\u201d Harris said. \u201cThe level only keeps increasing, so to put myself in the top 10 in the semi-finals again was a little bit of a surprise.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the women\u2019s semi-final, Field had to dig deep to secure the last remaining spot. The Victorian entered the last points race well down the leaderboard, needing to score strongly across each of the eight sprints.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith nothing left to lose, and one chance left\u2014I locked in,\u201d Field said. \u201cLap after lap I was scoring points, jumping up positions, but still not convinced it would be enough.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I crossed that final sprint and Carlee [Taylor], our DS, said \u2018Tilly you did it \u2013 you\u2019re 20th,\u2019\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t believe it. I just broke down in joy and disbelief.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Tilly Field said making the final was her ‘only goal’ this year. (Photo: supplied)<\/p>\n
Field and Harris will travel to the United Arab Emirates to contest the live final on November 15. For both Australians, reaching this pinnacle event fulfils a season-long objective.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaking top 20 in the Cycling Esports World Championship semi-finals has been my only goal for the past year,\u201d said Field, who won the national title back in April while racing remotely from Spain<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cTo be able to bring Australia to the world stage of esports, to make all the early morning efforts worth it, and finally meet my worldwide teammates and rivals face-to-face \u2013 that\u2019s why this means so much to me.\u201d<\/p>\n