Thomas Gloag took the opening stage in round six of the British Cycling Junior Men’s Road Series on a tough Cupar course.

The VC Londres rider held off George Mills-Keeling (Cycle Club Bridgnorth) by a slender three seconds, with Max Walker (Equiom IOM Junior CT) completing the podium after animating the racing throughout the day.

Gloag’s teammate Oscar Nilsson-Julien took a well-deserved fourth place after working to get the race winner into position on the final climb to the finish on the Lomond Hills.

More than 70 riders took to the start at St Andrews with the familiar roll out from the Scottish Seaside town on the long neutral section.

Joe Wilson(Team Ribble) attacked early to take the first KOM at Strathkinness before the main field reeled him back and the race moved onto the larger Devon loop.

The main break of the day formed as the race got into its stride. Walker, Joe Wilson (Team Ribble), Pedro Clem (Green Jersey RT), James Harrison (Equiom IOM) and Oscar Onley (Spokes RT) worked to move away from the main field who didn’t look to react with over half race distance to go.

One stage down, one to go

It's a perfect start for Thomas Gloag in the Kingdom Junior Classic with victory on day one in Fife

Here's what he had to say #JuniorRoadSeries pic.twitter.com/r602OU4vDC

— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) June 22, 2019

The second KOM at Porters Summit saw Onley took maximum points from Walker but the Equiom rider made no mistake shortly afterwards at Bonnybank taking the first sprint of the day from Onley.

Walker nailed the Points Jersey at Heatherhall, taking the second and final sprint of the day from Adam Mitchell (Spokes RT).

Walker’s third place in the overall general classification sees the IOM rider heading up the KOM competition heading into day two.

The leading group entered the final six kiolmetres of the race with over a minute to the good of the main field.

But Gloag didn’t hang around with the chance of being caught and with Nilsson-Julien attacked at the foot of the final climb as the main field were in sight.

Mills-Keeling jumped after the VC Londres pair but Gloag had the finish line in sight to claim the win.

Stage One Results

1. Thomas Gloag (VC Londres)

2. George Mills-Keeling (Cycle Club Bridgnorth RWG)

3. Max Walker (Equiom IOM Junior Cycling Team)

4. Oscar Nilsson-Julien (VC Londres)

5. Oliver Rees (HMT Hospitals Giant Cycling Team)

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