Barnes shines in Spain
Brit triumphs at Setmana Ciclista Valenciana
Hannah Barnes has revealed that her strong World Championships performance was the catalyst to an off-season of hard work, which culminated in her first ever overall race victory, at Setmana Ciclista Valenciana on Sunday.
“It’s easy to focus and be motivated for the off-season when you can finish a year with a good race like the Worlds,” said the Canyon-sram rider, who finished 14 at the Worlds after an attacking ride.
“I had a really good winter and was hoping to begin the season well but to come away with the win was really nice.”
Worlds momentum
Carrying this momentum into the Classics will be Barnes’s next aim, with Strade Bianche, Ghent-wevelgem and the Tour of Flanders the next challenges on her race programme.
“For me I’d like to carry this form on into them,” she said. “I’ve never done Strade Bianche before so I’m really looking forward to that and with Alexis [Ryan] coming second in Het Nieuwsblad we can go into the Classics with a really strong team and confidence to do well.”
After her win on stage one, Barnes had to fight to regain her overall race lead on the final stage, which consisted of three hilly 38-kilometre laps: “I was pretty much using the top of the climb as the finish line. I had to mark Ashleigh [Moolman], but she is really strong on the climbs so it was quite a tough task. But it was really cool to be able to have Pauline [Ferrand-prévot] and Kasia [Niewiadoma] there to help, I think they were two of the best riders I could have had there.”
Barnes’s victories weren’t the only British successes in Spain as Trekdrops rider Abby-mae Parkinson secured the young rider's jersey. “I was pretty shocked, it was my first race of the season so I had no idea where my legs were going to be, so to come away with a leader’s jersey was incredible,” said Parkinson.
“I didn’t think I’d keep it on the last day but I managed to find my climbing legs from somewhere and hold on.”
Even though the 20-year-old rider wasn’t officially assigned a leadership role for the race, Parkinson is hoping opportunities present themselves later in the season.
“I got to lead the team in the last race of the season at the Lotto Belgium Tour, which was incredible to be a leader in a Worldtour field at my age. But I’m happy to play a supporting role as well for the girls in the bigger races whenever they need me.”