Top 5 finish for Alice Sharpe in the Commonwealth Games


Alice Sharpe has secured Team Northern Ireland's best women's result in a bunch race on the track, finishing in 5th place in the scratch race at the Common Wealth Games. 


Up against three-rider teams from Australia, England and Wales, Sharpe rode tremendous to record a top 5 result. Alice rode an intelligent race, surfing the wheels of the numerically stronger teams, and in the closing laps was well positioned to take a medal. 


A late move by a Scottish rider was caught with less than two laps remaining when English rider, Laura Kenny powered through to take Gold. Alice narrowly missed out on a medal finishing in 5th place, a great result after a busy track programme including racing the individual pursuit and points race. 


On Saturday, Sharpe competed in the individual pursuit recording a time of 3 minutes 32.814 seconds, which put her in 9th place overall, with the medals going to New Zealand, Australia and Scotland respectively. 


Shape was also in action on Sunday in the points race, making the early running by attaching in the opening laps and was joined by a Canadian rider. The pair gained half a lap advantage, with two sprints during their spell off the front securing 6 points, before their efforts were reeled in and a decisive move of five riders moved clear and eventually gained a lap to put them well ahead on points. In a race dominated by nations with up to three riders, Sharpe acquitted herself well to finish up in 11th place, with the medals awarded to Australia, Scotland & Wales. 


Alice will now be Team Northern Ireland's sole rider in the women's Road Race on Sunday, before moving on to the European Championships in Germany next week.


Tomorrow, Wednesday sees Irish MTB champion Chris McGlinchey & British MTB champion Cameron Orr represent Team NI in the MTB event.


Thursday it is the turn of Darren Rafferty and Joanna Patterson in the Time Trial.


Sunday, Alice Sharpe will compete in the women's road race and Matthew Teggart, Chris McGlinchey, Darren Rafferty and Cameron Orr in the men's.