Preview: National Junior Road Race Championships 2010, 16th May

Next weekend in Brecon, South Wales, up to 100 road stars of the future will assemble at the Brecon Leisure Centre for British Junior Road Race Championships. After his stage win and overall victory in the Isle of Man leg of the Junior National Series Round 3, Joshua Edmundson will be one of the favorites looking to take the National title. Dan McLay, 2nd in the Junior Paris-Roubaix last month will also be looking uses his strength and power on the tough, demanding and hilly circuit around Brecon.

Up to 100 Junior riders will take to the roads around Brecon

Welshman, Sam Harrison is still looking for that illusive victory in 2010 but you can not accuse the man of not trying. Harrison finished in second place overall to Edmundson on the weekend in the Isle of Man, demonstrating that his form is perfect in the lead up to the Championships. Harrisons climbing ability will certainly help him over the challenging 74mile event.

Local boy Harrison will be looking to utilise his climbing skills

Also on the start list are new 2010 National Junior Road Race Series leader and Round 2 winner Simon Yates (Maxgear RT), Round 1 winner Tom Moses (Glendene CC). Simon took 4th in last year's event; can he improve on this in 2010?

The under 19 riders will face a distance of 74 miles and Unless they have other ideas, the riders will have the opportunity for a gradual warm-up on the first, rolling stretch out from the HQ at Brecon Leisure Centre to Llyswen. A mile long drag out of the village could see riders try to make an early break before they head towards Talgarth and take the undulating road, alongside Llangorse Lake, to Bwlch and its sharp and tricky descent. A long, gradual climb and fast, sweeping descent via Pengenffordd return the riders to Talgarth to retrace their route to Brecon and head out to Sennybridge, to take on the brutal Defynnog climb. Tired legs will be given some respite on the run-in to Brecon before the long drag back to the finish line outside the HQ.

Edmundson in good form in the lead up to the Championships

There certainly is no shortage of possible winners as so many of the riders entered have shown well in the past events with the likes of Adam Yates, Tom Moses, Lewis Balyckyi, Owain Doull and Perry Bowater to name a few.

All of the riders will be competing for the coveted National Champions Jersey which has been worn previous winners Jeremy Hunt, Yanto Barker, Stephen Cummings, Peter Kennaugh and last year's champion George Atkins.

Event information can be found here and course details are also now available:
course details | course map | course finish | course profile

Event details:
Date: 16 May 2010
Classification: National Junior only
Closing date for entries: 25 April 2010
Cheques payable to: Cadence Cycle Racing
Entries on the day: No

Location:
HQ: Brecon Leisure Centre, Penlan, Brecon
Postcode: LD3 9SR

Organisation:
Organiser: Christopher Landon
Address: 16 Preswylfa street, Canton, Cardiff, CF5 1FS
Tel: 02920 345869
E-mail: chris.landon@ntlworld.com

Promoting club: Cadence Cycle Racing
Race details
Rider category: Junior
Band: Band 2
Distance: 121Km / 75M
Start time: 10.30
Entry fee: £15.00

About Cadence Cycle Racing ...
... is a cycling club set up by members of existing Welsh clubs as a vehicle to promote new and different cycle races. It's aims include ...

• to promote races that most single, existing clubs would not normally promote, due to factors such as scale or location
• to fill gaps in the racing calendar (types of event, not chronology)
• to develop new courses in Wales
• to develop new officials, organisers, marshals (especially younger people)
• to seek to involve people from as many existing cycling clubs as possible
• to develop a team that can resource the key elements of a race located anywhere in Wales (race     promotion not limited by location)
• to innovate/try new ideas for the benefit of Welsh Cycling
• to promote great events and to have fun while doing so
Members are expected to remain as members of their existing club and to continue to support their own club's events

British and Welsh Cycling will have news and pictures from the race as soon as possible