28 July 2008
Teams from Denmark, Belgium and Holland will set this year's 28th RIS Junior Tour of Wales cycle race alight over August Bank Holiday when it returns to Blaenau Gwent and the roads of South and Mid Wales.
The race which has nurtured most of our best British riders over the years including our own Geraint Thomas who recently won a track world pursuit gold medal and is a favourite to do the same at the Beijing Olympics which takes place immediately before the date of the Junior Tour.
The Junior Tour consists of 5 stages starting with a 6-mile time trial from Brynmawr to the top of Keepers Mountain above Blaenavon.
The race is officially started by the Mayor at Brynmawr Square at 3pm on Saturday 23rd August for a 45 mile loop via Crickhowell Breco and Talybont to finish at the top of the 3 mile vicious climb of Llangynidr Mountain.
The event is the final in a season long junior series in which the top British riders will hope to win.
The 100 competitors will be at Bryn Bach Park on Sunday morning for a 10.30 start for an hour on the tough 2-mile circuit before leaving at 3.30 on another 45-mile loop. RIS Insulations of Blaina and Blaenau Gwent Council are the main sponsors of the race. Trophies are sponsored by the Racehorse Inn on the Blaenavon Road.
Stage 5 starts at Nantyglo Leisure Centre at 10.30 before running across the A465 to Hirwaun over the Beacons to Brecon and Abergavenny before finishing at the top of the Tumble (Keepers) mountain where the whole race can be won or lost.
For more information on this year's race please visit www.juniortourofwales.com
The phenomenal success of the RIS Insulation Junior Tour of Wales - an event fully supported by Blaenau Gwent Council throughout its 28year history - has led the organisers to programme an event for riders in the younger age categories (6 - 16yrs) on similar lines to the Junior Tour. Racing will take place over two weekends, all of it at Parc Bryn Bach. Sponsorship has been arranged with ARRIVA TRAINS WALES, who are keen to promote cycling as a positive activity for young people and at the same time celebrate the success of the Ebbw Vale Line. Racing begins at 10.30 on both the 23rd and 31st August under Welsh Cycling Regulations. Presentations will follow at Brynmawr Town Square - 14.15 on the 23rd where it will tie in with the 100-rider field for the Junior Tour assembling for their race and 3pm at the Bryn Bach Visitor centre on the 31st.
Please visit www.youthtourofwales.org for further information
