As mentioned, Sheffield couldn't quite take a place on the final podium in the sprint for second and third, eventually crossing the line in sixth. Nevertheless, there is understandable optimism on his part looking forward. "This is only my third Flanders but I think that each year I’m getting better and more experience, so I think that for my career, it’s a good showing," he assesses. "I can learn from this and hopefully, I can fight for the win one day."
“I felt like I was just riding through groups. I was in a decent position every time that we hit the Kwaremont but then on the Koppenberg, you saw all of us had to dismount and run or walk up the cobbles. There were quite a few crashes but then
Ben Turner was able to chase as well as
Joshua Tarling, to help us fight for a podium and then in that sprint I just didn’t have the legs but I have to thank the team,” Sheffield adds. “There’s the Koppenberg cyclo-cross race and I’m sure that’s as best as you can describe it. Obviously, in road shoes, you’re not meant to run up cobblestones, and we were just trying to get up as quickly as possible, then when I saw guys remount I did the same but at that point, Mathieu had already attacked and we were just trying to chase as best as possible.”