Teniel Campbell's Team BikeExchange sixth in Belgium

TENIEL Campbell’s Team BikeExchange placed sixth overall at the 2021 Dwars door Vlaanderen (Across Flanders) in Belgium on Wednesday.

Campbell’s teammate Grace Brown placed sixth, finishing behind winner Annemiek Van Vleuten (Movistar Team), runner-up Katarzyna Niewiadoma and third-placed Alexis Ryan (both of Canyon SRAM Racing).

Rounding off the top five were Campbell’s former teammate Vittoria Guazzinni (Valcar – Travel & Service) and Alsion Jackson (Liv Racing) respectively.

The TT women’s pro rider finished the 122km distance in 82nd place among the 165 competitors.

In her most recent team performances on the Belgian circuit, Campbell placed 96th (141.7km) at the Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields (March 28), 47th (158.8km) at the Oxyclean Classic Brugge-De Panne (March 25); 27th (117.6km) at the GP Oetingen (March 14) and 91st (124.4km) at the Omloop Het Nieuwsbald (February 27).

After Wednesday’s race, Campbell expressed some disappointment with her performance but was inspired to keep pushing.

She wrote on her Facebook page, “Gaskit started whistling a bit earlier than usual today. Such a scorcher as well! Belgium had me feeling as though I was struggling to arrive home in 12 o clock heat in TT for a moment there! Yes, a Caribbean complaining about the heat.

“Today did not go according to plan, but moments like these are also part of the process! I can only constantly keep on fighting to do and be better. Everything will fall into place on its own! At least the fire inside me to constantly want more out of myself is here. Back to the (drawing) board.”