09.08.2021 World-Tour, News, Race news

A RETURN TO RACING IN NORWAY

CANYON//SRAM Racing return to racing at Ladies Tour of Norway on Thursday 12 August with a six-rider strong line up. Alice Barnes, Hannah Barnes, Elise Chabbey, Ella Harris, Mikayla Harvey and Alexis Ryan will start the four-day Women’s World Tour stage race around the southern regions of Norway.

After a four-week break in racing for many riders, Harvey says they’re feeling refreshed and ready for the final three months of the 2021 season.

Mikayla says, “After the Giro d’Italia Donne, I gave myself time to focus on recovery. I feel like this was very important as it allowed both my mind and body to become refreshed and ready for the rest of the season. I was able to put the Giro behind me and refocus on what I have ahead of me and not dwell too much in the past.”

Three of the four stages are long and undulating, each finishing with local circuits, and bound to be more suited to the sprinters of the peloton. The general classification could well be decided with the queen stage on day three, with a summit finish in Norefjell after an eleven kilometre climb.

“My ambitions for Ladies Tour of Norway is to race with fire in my belly,” describes Mikayla.

“The stages look long and hard, I want to be there to support my team and be in the thick of the action. I love to race aggressively so I am sure there will be many opportunities throughout the tour. Stage three in particular looks very challenging with an eleven kilometre climb at the end. This will be a huge challenge and extremely important for the GC. I am sure this stage will test out my racing form!”

“It will be my first time traveling to Norway, so I am excited to see a new part of the world. The break from racing has also made me hungry to be back! Watching the Olympics for the past two weeks has left me feeling extremely motivated. I’ve enjoyed watching athletes giving it their all; I feel very inspired and cannot wait to be racing again,” adds Mikayla.