Sunday 26 March 2017 14:16, UK
Lucy Garner was in good form as she achieved two top-ten finishes in the Lotto Belisol Belgium Tour over the weekend.
The Sky Academy Sports Scholar claimed sixth on stage one on Friday before going one better in Sunday's third stage. Her Giant-Shimano team-mate Amy Pieters remains in contention for the general classification title.
In what is likely to be Garner's final race of the season for the team before completing her 2014 campaign at the UCI Road World Championships with Great Britain, the 19-year-old from Leicestershire looked determined to sign off in style.
After a two-rider breakaway on the opening stage, it was left for the rest of the following pack to sprint for third. Garner put in a good effort to finish fourth in the sprint, and sixth overall, but admitted that there was some frustration despite the result.
“It was a tough day and I’m kind of happy but also a bit disappointed with my result today,” she told the Giant-Shimano official website. “I’m happy with how I got round the course and with my shape but I got boxed in against the barriers a bit. It’s good to be racing again though."
Saturday's team time trial was an altogether more challenging stage for Garner as she was forced to be let go by the team as they rode on to a second-place finish.
However, Garner was back among the front runners on Stage Three as she came fifth following another sprint finish. Chloe Hosking of Mixte 4 Hitec-Boels won the stage in 2:42:57 with Garner, four places back, one of a number of riders given the same time.
The final stage takes place on Monday, finishing in Geraardsbergen.
