Guernsey riders mix with the cream of Britain

SARNIAN riders James McLaughlin and Matt Osborn were among the cream of British junior cycling who competed in the National Junior Men's Road Race Championship. The event was run over one of the most testing courses around the Shropshire countryside and the overcast and drizzling conditions persisted throughout the duration of the race making some of the road surfaces slippery.

The race set off from the market town of Bridgnorth and was neutralised, meaning no attacks permitted, through the town over the river Severn.

Still neutralised, the riders ascended the steep climb of Hermitage Hill where the neutralised flag was dropped at the start of the 68 miles of a four-lap course each over 17 undulating miles.

Right from the start attacks went flying off the front with the first decisive break of five riders coming after 10 miles, which included former world junior track champion Peter Kennaugh.

Guernsey Velo Club members McLaughlin and Osborn rode well within the 60-rider peleton chasing the breakaway group.

With 25 miles out of the 68 completed, the five leading riders were 1min. 36sec. ahead of the peleton.

As the race progressed this break came down to 40 seconds.

With only six miles to go, four riders broke clear from the peleton and aggressively chased down the leaders, almost catching them in the last 100 metres of the race.

The chasing peleton, which included McLaughlin who placed 27th, finished 1-05 down from the winner Kennaugh (2-49-46).

Osborn lost touch with the peleton with about three miles to go and finished in 48th place, 2-46 down.

'To hold our own at national level in such a group of riders was particularly pleasing.

'It was a big learning curve for us, not having competed before in such a large field.

'Things can only improve with further opportunities to race at this level,' McLaughlin and Osborn said.

Of the 72 starters, the high pace, an average of 26mph, the tough course and miserable weather conditions resulted in only 52 finishers. The final rider to finish was some 35 minutes down on the winner.