A new season means one can finally stop looking back at what was, and get excited about what is to come. But Jamaican cyclist Llori Sharpe feels inclined to indulge in retrospection which serves as her source of motivation.

For Sharpe, reflecting on the previous season affords her the opportunity to not only learn from past mistakes, but more importantly, build on the highs, as she is primed for another decent year of racing.

The 22-year-old, who joined the professional ranks as part of European cycling team Canyon//SRAM Generation, earned the team’s first two podium finishes in what was a mixed bag, but memorable debut season.

“Having had the time to reflect, I must say last year was rather strange, but in a good way. Starting my professional cycling career with Canyon//SRAM Generation, getting to race in and explore several countries that I never imagined going to — at least so soon — and meeting some great people is simply an awesome opportunity and I enjoyed every moment being a part of such a lovely team,” Sharpe told the Jamaica Observer.

“However, it would be remiss of me not to mention a few that it definitely took me out of my comfort zone and so it took a while for me to adjust, but luckily I had people around me in similar situation, and their support provided the lift for me to not only find my footing but also ride some good races,” she added.

Sharpe’s first podium finish came in the Trofeo Dulcinea where she placed second in the Under-23 category and seventh overall, while the other came at the Liga Autonomica de Feminas where she again placed second in the Under-23 age group and third overall.

Those performances paved the way for Canyon//SRAM Generation to renew the budding cyclist’s contract, as she joins others from Paraguay, Germany, Namibia, Rwanda, Algeria, and Austria in a formidable eight-member female team.

With that renewal having her on a high, Sharpe pointed out that she is mentally and physically refreshed and ready to take on the new season with high hopes of future success.

“Both the good and not so good parts of last year certainly enhanced my mental resilience in particular. The life of a professional cyclist is no easy feat, and being able to endure the intricacies of it all allowed me to tap into a whole new level of mental toughness that I didn’t know I was capable of,” Sharpe declared.

“My parents always told me that I could be great at anything I wanted to, if I worked hard enough. So, obviously the aim is to continue putting in the work and beyond that, believe in myself more and not succumbing to certain pressures as much,” she noted.

The former national swimmer and triathlete, whose season is scheduled to get under way on March 26, will depart the island later this week to participate in 21 races across Europe through to mid-September. Six of those 21 events are two to six day stage races covering 250km to 700km.

Sharpe is also expected to join her Jamaican teammates in Panama on April 17-23, for the Pan American Road Championships where countries will vie for the top 19 male and female spots to the Pan American Games in Chile.

“With race season starting, I’m edging to see how I’ve developed relative to last year. I think with 2022 under my belt, I’m in a better position to approach this season smarter and in a way that will not only allow me to achieve my personal goals, but those of the team as well,” she said.

“My race calendar is pretty packed, so there are quite a lot of events to look forward to, and again I am excited to see how I fare in those races and in what ways I can contribute to teammates securing top placements.

“I want to become more and more competitive in races, and continue to learn and grow in the sport as I go forward,” The University of West Indies (UWI) student, who will complete her final semester while in Europe, ended.