Before Alice Barnes won the double in June, Emma Pooley was the only woman to have won both national road and time trial titles in the same year. Indeed, she is only the fifth woman to win both titles since the national federation created the women’s TT championships in 2000; her sister Hannah is one of the others.
Starting her career as a mountain biker, her first international road race was riding in support of Lizzie Armitstead (now Deignan) at the 2014 Worlds where she impressed, leading the peloton late in the race.
She progressed quickly, racing for GB the following year before joining Drops in 2015. Bagging top-10 finishes in WorldTour races, she progressed each year, before joining Canyon-SR AM at the beginning of last season, closing the year with gold in the World Championship team time trial.
Though the Nationals are her only individual victories, she has performed consistently well this year, especially against the clock, with the recent Boels Ladies Tour prologue the only TT where she finished outside the top 10.
“We were working around what she had done in the past, but also on not doing too much and getting sick, and she’s had a really good season,” says new coach Dean Downing. “We didn’t know what Alice could do and she won the Nationals,” he continues. “She got her 20-minute power pb at that race and that tells me she’s gone the best she’s ever gone. If she gets a medal at the Worlds that’s fantastic, but if she does her best power in that race, that’s the best she could have done and you have to be happy.”
Barnes has also gone well on the road, taking second place behind lone escapee Marianne Vos (CCC-Liv) on an uphill stage finish in a stage of August’s Ladies Tour of Norway, in what was perhaps the standout performance of the race.
Bu hikaye CYCLING WEEKLY dergisinin September 19, 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye CYCLING WEEKLY dergisinin September 19, 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
CLASSIC BIKE COLNAGO SUPER
A trailblazing bike immortalised by Merckx and Saronni
"Strava activities are the only way I know some of my friends are still alive"
...or that Bernard is doing his weekly shop
AN EXPERT'S TAKE ON... SADDLE SELECTION
Crucial advice to guide your next purchase
JUST A NUMB#R?
Approaching a landmark birthday, Charlie Graham-Dixon explores how ageing affects cycling performance and what can be done to stay ahead of the curve
RURAL PERIL
More UK cyclists are killed on rural lanes than on busy city streets. Rob Kemp investigates why and what can be done to keep us safe while riding in the countryside
A BLESSED RIDE THROUGH THE FOREST OF BOWLAND
Forgoing cloak, cassock and cross, Trevor Ward goes in search of the holy roads that helped make a Tour winner
Dame Sarah Storey claims road and 19th gold double
More success for Team GB's Paralympians in Paris, but Storey slams women's time trial course
Roglič matches Vuelta win record
Slovenian takes fourth Tour of Spain title after hunting down O'Connor's lead, writes Adam Becket
Williams crowned Tour of Britain champion
Welshman leads home resurgence at the stage race to crown an Israel-Premier Tech clean sweep, reports Tom Davidson in Felixstowe
CLASSIC BIKE CLAUD BUTLER OLYMPIC ROAD
Iconic British brand's Holdsworth-era road bike