Ally
Wollaston

Ally's Bio

Ally is a 22-year-old experienced track and road cyclist from New Zealand. She spent her school years at St Peter's School, where she also came into contact with cycling through her family. Afterwards, she decided to study law at the University of Waikato. She combines these studies with her professional cycling career, where she has been able to make great growth leaps since 2018.

At her young age she has already achieved many beautiful things. Ally became world champion in the individual pursuit at the 2019 UCI Junior Track Cycling World Championships, as well as the title of national champion on the road and in the criterium. In 2020 she won the championship in the omnium and Madison.

The following year, her career took a different turn. A crucial point, which also turned out to be successful. A week before the Road Nationals in early 2021, Ally was involved in a crash. This crash left her with a concussion that prevented her from training and racing for two months. Because of this, she also missed out on being selected for Tokyo on the track, which made her think about what she wanted to do next. The thinking spurred her to look for another team. One of the few teams she contacted was the Dutch U23 development team, AG Insurance - NXTG. Natascha den Ouden, who wanted Ally to join the team, provided a new 'home'. Wollaston has been part of the development team since 2021 and will be part of our elite team from 2023 under the name of AG Insurance - Soudal Quick-Step.

“I first started racing on the road in New Zealand by just entering local racing and having a good time on the bike! I was always very competitive so sport was a healthy outlet for that. I had my first go on the track when I was 14 at the Manukau velodrome in Auckland. I instantly loved the thrill of the high speed and racing on the banking, and haven’t looked back since!

My inspiration for cycling is really to inspire others. Cycling provides a very unique platform that other workplaces do not offer. For myself, it provides a way to inspire young women to dream big, and aspire to excel in whatever they set their mind to.

My dream is to become an established professional road cyclist. I am still navigating my way on the road, so I’m unsure of the type of rider I am. On the track my dream is to be an Olympic champion in the omnium.

My dream race on the road is currently the Giro Donne and the Women’s Tour de France again. The Giro is the longest stage race in the women’s peloton to date, which makes very prestigious.

Racing in Belgium was a real culture shock for me. The best way for me to describe it is pure chaos. The road surfaces and mass of riders in the peloton was something I had never experienced, but it makes it very exciting.”