"Hopefully, I can fight for the win one day" - Magnus Sheffield optimistic for future prospects after impressive sixth at Tour of Flanders

Although Mathieu van der Poel was far and away the strongest in the field at the 2024 Tour of Flanders, the battle for the rest of the podium behind was incredibly tight. Keeping INEOS Grenadiers well in the mix was the impressive Magnus Sheffield.

“Flanders is such a historic race, there’s never been an American male to win but I told myself that even a top-ten today, I knew was possible," the 21-year-old told GCN post-race. "So to be fighting for the podium, I think that we can be really happy with this."

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.”