National champion Georgia Williams believes she is reaching the end of her cycling career after suffering two concussions in three months.
Georgia Williams celebrates winning the elite women's title at the 2021 national road cycling championships in Cambridge. Photo: John Cowpland/Photosport Ltd 2021
Williams, 28, crashed heavily in the inaugural women's Paris-Roubaix at the weekend, in her first race since being forced to abandon the Giro d'Italia Donne in July.
"That was pretty frustrating. As soon as I crashed and hit my head I was like 'no, not again', but at least I know how to recover from them I guess," Williams said.
"I'll be fine. I could be a lot worse, but I'm okay."
The 2018 Commonwealth Games silver medallist concedes the concussions are "worrying" as she has suffered head knocks in previous seasons.
"Your brain is so important and it's a pretty scary thing to injure.
"I'm extra careful with them now. I think they do take longer for me to recover from them rather than other people because of my history."
As a result Williams has started to have second thoughts about cycling and feels she is "getting to the end of my career".
"Every time it happens I'm like 'gosh, why am I putting myself through this', I don't want problems in later life, but I guess it's just a risk I'm willing to take.
"Maybe my next concussion I'll be done after that, but hopefully no more.
"Definitely the crashes are on my mind. It is hard to keep going and pushing through after injuries and crashes. And I have been doing it for quite a while. I started when I was 18 and I just turned 28 so that's going on 10 years of riding and I just want to do some other things in life.
"I don't know how many more years. I'll just take it year by year and if I'm still enjoying it then I want to keep going, but I'm getting closer I think."
Despite the setbacks, Williams has signed on for a sixth season with Team BikeExchange and has some big goals for 2022, including the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
She won silver in the women's road race at the 2018 Games on the Gold Coast.
"That was amazing. That was one of my career highlights so to get another medal would be super cool.
"I'm going to do the time trial next year, which I didn't do on the Gold Coast. I really like time trialing so that will be a big goal."
Georgia Williams (centre) celebrates on the podium after winning the elite women's title at the 2021 national road cycling championships. Photo: John Cowpland/Photosport Ltd 2021
Georgia Williams is also hoping to ride in the inaugural women's Tour de France next July and the world championships, which will be held in Australia in September.
"That will be awesome. It's like a home world champs for me almost. All my family and friends could come over to watch so that'd be awesome to get a good result there."
Williams' 2021 season looks to have come to a premature end, despite being scheduled to race in Netherlands later this month.
"I was originally down for it, but the team aren't too stressed about it and I probably won't have to do that.
"I think I'll just take it easy and just let my head recover really well."
She will continue her recovery in New Zealand when she returns home next month and will stay on to defend her national jersey in February.
"It's really special. Having it again this year after I didn't have it for a couple of years you really notice it when it's on your back.
"You're noticed more. You get to start at the front of the race and you get mentioned a lot more in the commentary because...your jersey stands out from the others.
"I feel like I am getting to the end of my career so every year that I can win that is extra special."