McLaughlin top junior in consecutive French events

JAMES MCLAUGHLIN has added two highly impressive first-junior finishes in France to his ever-improving CV.

The 17-year-old Sarnian's second race on French soil was a 110km road race just north of Nantes.

It was another gruelling race over a rolling 7km circuit. A field of 72 started the race with attacks coming constantly.

'For the first few laps James "played safe" and held position in the middle of the third group,' said his coach, Ann Bowditch.

'After five of the 16 laps, he began to make his way up the field.'