Alice Sharpe has
said she believes riding for the UCI World Cycling Centre pro team this year
will help her in today’s elite women’s road race at the World Championships.
The national road
champion goes into the event as the sole Irish woman and believes it will be
crucial to use her head first, then her legs.
“This was my
first year racing at UCI level so, of course, that makes a difference when you come
to championships like this,” she said.
“You’re used to
racing with the girls, you know the wheels to follow; just more experience
makes for better racing at a competition like this.”
And while riding the Worlds for Ireland was an honour, she has already had a successful season to date.
“I think getting
the national championships this year was a big goal of mine. And I felt a lot
of pressure going into the championships to do the job,” she said.
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“I was being
selected to represent Ireland at competitions like this so I felt like I owed
it to prove like there was a good reason for me to be selected. So I felt like
that was a highlight for me.
“Then there were
some solid results at UCI races this year; so it’s just about building on that
next year and learning how to finish off a race.
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“I’m finishing in
the front bunches now but I need more confidence to go for the win.”
Sharpe described
as “super special” getting to ride in the Irish champion’s jersey and “show it
off” around Europe.
And while she
will be the lone Irish representative today in the elite women’s race, she said
she was up for it.
“It’s difficult
being in a team of one but also it means I can race totally for myself. But
that has it’s own disadvantages as well.
“I’ll be trying
to follow the moves and just be smart and use my heads before my legs.
“It’s a long
race; the maximum distance for everybody at the championships. So, definitely,
a mind game first and then use your legs for the finish.”
Sharpe added she
had been offered a place at the UCI team again for next year but had made no
decision. She would “see how the track goes” over the winter.
“We’re focusing on
the madison, for qualifying a place for Tokyo so for the minute my focus after
this will go on the track; to try and get the job done there first.”
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