Alice Barnes signs for Canyon-sram

Brit spreads her wings in move to German team

After two years with British team Drops, Alice Barnes is hoping to shed leadership responsibility and take more risks with Canyon-sram.

Last week the German outfit announced Team GB rider Barnes will join them for 2018, and the 22-year-old hopes to learn from the squad’s more experienced riders.

The team’s line-up for 2018 also includes older sister and former national champion Hannah, part of the unit which finished fourth in Sunday ’s World Championship TTT.

“I heard a lot about the team from Hannah and I knew this year that I needed to step up,” Barnes told CW. “I’ve had great opportunities to ride for myself and get results, but what I actually need is to learn and to ride for others to make me stronger.”

A number of Women’s Worldtour top-10 finishes and outsprinting Marianne Vos (WM3) to a stage win at July’s Bene Tour illustrate Barnes’s excellent year. However, she believes leading the team while so young may have hindered her development.

“I had opportunities last year and I don’t regret staying with Drops, but I think I have outgrown them,” she said.

“I don’t have that much confidence when I’m racing, but because I have been relied upon to get results for the team I’ve not taken risks. I’ve followed wheels and stayed in for the end because I’ve got quite a good sprint, rather than having the confidence to follow moves and get in a breakaway.”

This weekend in Norway, Barnes will represent Great Britain in her fourth World Championship road race. There she and her sister will form part of a strong sevenwoman team in support of 2015 champion Lizzie Deignan.

Another rider moving teams is national time trial champion Claire Rose. After spending 2017 riding in North America, the 30-year-old will ride for German registered Cervélobigla next year. Meanwhile, Olympic team pursuit champion Elinor Barker is rejoining Wiggle-high5, who she rode for in 2014.