Junior Tour of Wales 2022 Report
The intrepid Mid Devon Junior Team of James Pearcy, Felix Whetter, Reuben Heal and Callum Start headed to the Junior Tour of Wales on the August Bank Holiday weekend for four days of fast and furious bike racing with the best riders in the country. The team had all placed well throughout the year in the National Series and were looking forward to the event.
Logistics is always key when planning any trip with nine bikes to carry ( 4 road, 4 time trial and a spare) we were fortunate to have the new club vehicle at our disposal – it performed faultlessly. With parents lending a hand too we transported everyone in comfort and successfully lay by hopped to watch the racing too.
The four stages were Stage 1 prologue TT which finished on the Tumble ( a mountain), Stage 2 64 mile road stage which finished on the Black Mountain (another mountain), Stage 3 a 24 mile circuit race, Stage 4 58 mile road stage and stage 5 a 67 mile road stage finishing up the Tumble (more climbing).
The lads acquitted themselves well and all contributed to the racing, both Reuben and James got caught up in crashes and James did well to complete the fourth stage on a spare bike after his was damaged. Felix got in the prize money with a fifth place on the circuit race, a hectic event with 100 riders competing on a tight course. Felix used all his skills to place third in the group sprint after two riders went clear for the duration of the race.
Callum Start was our best placed rider overall placing consistently for 21st overall. The whole Team completed the race and we placed 7th in the Team competition out of 20.
All the Team benefitted greatly from the event and we look forward to supporting them in 2023 as Under 23 riders which will build on the clubs racing offer.
Thanks go to the Mid Devon and Dartmoor Classic Committee’s and the club membership for supporting the riders throughout the year
