Northern Ireland’s sole Track Cycling representative Alice Sharpe has put in two days of solid riding as the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Track Programme nears an end at the Lee Valley Velodrome in London.
Her first event was the Individual Pursuit event yesterday (Saturday) which whilst similar, is not the same as the Team Pursuit event she normally rides when representing Ireland. Sharpe recorded 3min 32.814 sec, which put her in 9th place overall; with the medals going to New Zealand, Australia and Scotland respectively.
In today’s (Sunday 31st) women’s 25km Points Race, Sharpe made the early running by attacking in the opening laps, to be joined by a Canadian rider. The pair gained half a lap advantage (a full lap would have received 20 points), with two sprints during their spell off the front netting the NI woman 6 points, before their efforts were reeled in and a decisive move of five riders moved clear and eventually gained a lap to put them well ahead on points. In a race dominated by nations with up to three riders, Sharpe acquitted herself well to finish up in 11th place, with the medals awarded to Australia, Scotland & Wales.
Tomorrow sees the final Track sessions, with Alice down to ride the 10km Scratch race, before the Cycling Programme moves to Birmingham with the Mountain Bike race on Wednesday, Time Trial on Thursday and the Road Race on Sunday.