"It was really with the Masterton club that I started in bunch rides. There were club runs Tuesday nights and races each week during the daylight-saving period and [Wairarapa-based national commissaire] Sue Lyttle wanted a women's only race.
"I entered just to up the numbers and then started doing local club rides.
"It was incredible fun, that was all due to the encouragement from the club to have a go," she said. "The bunch riders here don't just leave you behind like in other places and Masterton cycling has a lot of women riders. I've cycled in Bay of Plenty and Auckland, and they don't stop for you.
"You may fall behind here but the group will gather together again down the road," she said.
"Our good cyclists are delighted when someone achieves and they have given me hints and tips and been prepared to accept a girl riding with them. The mentoring from the club has been amazing." Mouat said she was "blessed with a light body and ability to climb well - it's the power to weight ratio" and had started a regime of training and diet for the September world championship race.
"The dream is to come back with a rainbow jersey, a world champion's jersey."
Mouat said particular challenges she faces as a Southern Hemisphere cyclist are that she will be training for race fitness and competing out of season, while her European rivals are instead nearing the end of their Northern Hemisphere race season and are more than likely peaking.
Also, the championship is raced over a 60km circuit that for the final third forces competitors to climb a mountain.
"It's a mountain-top finish, which will be challenge in itself."
Mouat also helps train St Matthew's Collegiate School pupils in competitive cycling, including Year 9 student Emma Whight and Year 10 student Lotte Willemstein, who will both compete in the upcoming secondary schools North Island championships.
Fundraising for Mouat's race bid in Italy has already begun and includes an upcoming Athletic Cycling Masterton quiz night in the town.
