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Junior Tour of Wales


I had 1 day of rest between track nationals and the Tour of Wales. I spent it carbo loading (shoving my face) and fixing my road bike whose headset had disintegrated half way through the week.

The race started on the Saturday with a 10k Prologue/hill climb. It was a rolling course followed by a climb to the finish. I opted for road bike with aero wheels instead of a tt bike. During the ride I never felt quite right and got a respectable time to come in 16th but was a bit disappointed.

My plan for the afternoon stage was to attack just before the bottom of the brutal finishing climb of Llangynidr and solo my way to victory. I sat at the back for the whole race until about 20 k before the climb. Peter Dibben, my GWR team mate, did a big turn on the front to bring back the break and then I attacked. I just rode hard up the mountain till I caught the break that was away. As soon as I got there a Norwegian attacked and I was caught behind with 1 other rider who was suffering and couldn't do any work. I crossed the line second and gained valuable time on the favorites. I really wanted the win as I have yet to take one this season but I gave it my all. I was 3rd overall after the stage.


Stage 3 was a criterium around Brybach park and my plan for the stage was to sit in and watch any GC riders. I failed to get in the move containing Erick and some of the others so had to chase for the whole stage as nobody else could do so. This really tired my legs for the afternoon. As you can see the weather was terrible and the stage winner was a Norwegian.





I had dropped to 9th overall before the afternoon road stage and needed to take time. I was soon on the attack and luckily a large group slipped away easily and the only GC riders in were me, Erick, Joe Perrett, and a Norwgian. We worked well for a bit then things started to slow as riders sat on the back. I kept driving the break as I had a lot to gain but at the finish my legs were too tired from the morning's exertions and driving the break.




I was 4th on GC going into the final stage took place over the moors. My goal was to get on the podium I was going to attack before the tumble and take some time out of most likely Joe. I tried hard throughout the stage to get away but was too heavily marked and we arrived at the tumble together. Joe Perrett actually took time out of me going up the climb as I was suffering from being active all day. Tosh Vandersande got away before the climb and took more time out of me so unfortunately I finished 5th but I tried hard for the podium so I can't beat myself up.

The week after I spent doing canoeing, mountain biking, and some climbs around Wales.

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