Friday 24 March 2017 11:29, UK
Lucy Garner was unable to repeat last year's heroics at the Route de France but the gruelling race still proved a valuable test for GB's rising road cycling star.
The 21-year-old Sky Academy Sports Scholar has had a busy and lively summer with new team Wiggle High5, suffering three crashes in La Course and going up against younger sister Grace at Ride London at the end of July.
She was back across the channel last week for the eight-day road race, looking to emulate her efforts in 2015 at the prestigious event when she beat Australian Annette Edmondson, now a team-mate, into second to take the opening stage in a photo-finish.
It proved a challenging race for Garner this time round, as she finished 60th overall and 21st in the youth classifications, with American Amber Neben (Bepink) first and Briton and fellow Wiggle High5 rider Dani King in ninth.
Garner, competing in her longest race of the year so far, said: "It was a tough eight days of racing around France but a really good block for me to finish off.
"Most days were hard with climbs so I did what I could for the team but didn't get a result for myself.
"It felt good to have this hard block of racing and it will set me up nicely for my last races of the season."
Garner, who just missed on selection for the Rio Games, has had such a hectic schedule she barely had a chance to take in the road cycling events in Brazil.
She added: "It's been hard for me to keep up with the Olympics unfortunately because of everything I've been up to.
"But I did try to watch both the road races in Rio. Both the men's and women's racing were so exciting. You didn't know who would win right until the end. That's what I love about cycling!"
WHAT'S COMING UP...
August 17: Jess Judd, Manchester International
August 5-21: Rio Olympics
August 27-28: Quillan Isidore, British Championships, Derby
September 7-18: Rio Paralympics
