Alice Barnes today had her career-best finish in a Women’s World Tour one-day race after sprinting to sixth place at Driedaagse Brugge – De Panne in Belgium. Alice re-entered the front group of sixteen leaders with seven kilometres remaining in the 156km race.

“To get back to the front after the peloton split the last time, I was helped by CCC riders as they had also missed it. We were a group of eight and it was full effort to chase for six kilometres, so it was good we could make it back,” said Alice after the finish.

“I had wasted a lot of unnecessary energy earlier in the race with bad positioning at crucial moments. It was hectic, like a huge washing machine from the start. Unfortunately we lost Alexis in a crash too.”

“The last five kilometres were tough, with no chance to recover as the group was attacking each other making the pace inconsistent. I tried to pick the wheels for the sprint but I had to close a gap out of the last corner and that didn’t help my final sprint,” explained Alice.

“I didn’t have much left in the tank after my mistakes earlier in the race, so it wasn’t my best sprint. I fought to the line so I should be happy with sixth, but it’s how I got there that makes me disappointed with the race” said Alice.

Alice’s teammate, Tiffany Cromwell added, “Overall as a team we were a bit disappointed with the race and the final outcome. It was great that Alice was able to save things for us and make it back to that front group after the late crosswinds that shattered the peloton. She was on her own, so getting sixth was a good result.”

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