Finlay Pickering and Kinga Ingram opened their seasons in style with emphatic first-round victories in the British Cycling Youth Circuit Series in Pembrey.
Pickering, along with Joe Kiely (Welwyn Wheelers CC) took to the head of the race after a brisk opening 15 minutes that saw Kiely and overnight race leader Tom Lord (Giant Halifax Race Team) take the initiative on the opening lap.
With the pair pulled back into the bunch it was Kiely who attacked again on lap six, taking Pickering along for the ride, with the two allowed to roam clear.
Sam Holwill (Hafren CC) and Kieran Riley (ROTOR RT) tried to bridge the gap but the effort was short lived and the pair were hauled back in, before Pickering attacked with ten laps remaining to take a much-deserved lone win in the stage and overall.
Lord, who was involved in the last lap crash took second overall whilst Dan Kain claimed third.
“It’s a good start to the season, I just need to carry it through now.”
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) March 31, 2019
One race down and one win in the bag but Finlay Pickering is already after more following a perfect start to the British Cycling Youth Circuit Series #YouthCircuitSeries pic.twitter.com/CjOrJr60Vb
Ingram makes most of early advantage
In the Youth A girls race it was Halesowen A&CC’S Ingram who carried her prologue win into the final day to claim the overall victory.
Grace Lister (WWCC), who took the win on the second stage finished in the main field to claim second overall while Maddie Leech (RFDA) completed the podium.
Race leader Ingram took matters into her own hands to nullify attacks, with Ella Coleman (Welwyn Wheelers) making a significant break with six laps remaining.
Ingham went to the head of the bunch to bring her back, with the expected bunch sprint won by East Kilbride’s Imani Pereira-James, putting her seventh overall.
Kinga Ingram normally doesn't do too well in prologues - but she certainly changed that unwanted history!
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) March 31, 2019
A perfect first stage paved the way for glory as the Youth Circuit Series got under way in style in Pembrey.#YouthCircuitSeries pic.twitter.com/quiJYctq8V
Sprint finish sees Smithson prevail
Jed Smithson (WORX Factory Racing) took his second win of the weekend to take the overall in the Youth B boys.
Losing two seconds to Oli Akers (Holmfirth CC) in the prologue, Smithson made amends on stage two to claw the time difference back.
With no-one able to make any difference to the result on the final stage the race would come down to a bunch sprint that saw Smithson throw his bike across the line to take the win and the top step on the podium.
Ackers held on to his second spot and Seth Jones (Maindy Flyers Youth) finished third on the stage to take the same overall.
Sharp completes the Pembrey hat-trick
Estrella Bikes’ Isabel Sharp, who posted the quickest time in the prologue, made it a clean sweep by taking wins in both stages two and three in the Youth B categoty.
Even though Ella Jamieson (Clifton CC) tried to animate the final stage it was always going to come down to a sprint finish.
Sharp is recognised as arguably the strongest finisher from a sprint and she made no mistake on the Pembrey circuit.
Jamieson had to be content with second place overall and Solent Pirates’ Katie-Anne Calton completed the top three.
Results
Youth A Boys General Classification
Youth A Girls General Classification
Youth B Boys General Classification
Youth B Girls General Classification
Gallery
