Great Britain's Anna Kaye (Xperza Pro CX) will try to defend her under-23 women's lead this weekend at round 5 of the 2019/20 UCI Cyclocross World Cup in Coxayde, Belgium, but admits she needs to ride "more aggressively."

That's despite finishing third in the elite women's race at the third round of the World Cup in Bern, Switzerland, in October this season, and finishing second behind young Dutch star Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado in the U23 race at the recent European Championships.

Kay finished seventh in the fourth round of the World Cup in Tabor last week and is fourth overall in the elite standings. Alvarado is another 19 points behind, but has competed in the last two World Cup races, finishing second in both.

In an interview with Kay posted on the UCI website on Thursday, the 20-year-old British rider admitted that he enjoys racing against experienced elite riders.

"I don't have a lot of pressure because I'm still young and I try to enjoy those opportunities. I was scared the first time I stood on the start line with [cyclo-cross world champion] Sanne Canto. I was scared and thrilled. I feel like I can learn from them."

"Mainly, I watch the lines they take to overtake their rivals, the risks they take and how aggressive they are. I also see how focused they are and how they approach the race," said Kay, who finished fourth in the 2018 elite women's national championship road race and eighth in the same race this season.

"We need to be more aggressive," she continued. Last season was harder. Last season I had to start from the back and fight my way to the front. Now it's easier. Technically I have good cyclo-cross skills, but I need to be more aggressive to defend my position.

Kay, who reaches the halfway point of the nine-round World Cup series this weekend in Koksijde, is now coached by retired British cyclocross rider Helen Wyman and her husband Steph, but has clear goals for the rest of the season.

"It would be really great to keep the lead in the U23 World Cup, do well at the Nationals (in Shrewsbury in January), and get on the podium at the World Championships," she said, the latter of which will be held in early February in Dübendorf, Switzerland.

"I didn't expect this to happen. I've done more than I thought I could," Kay admitted, and after the race in Coxaide, she will head to Calpe, Spain, for a two-week training camp. I feel great."