Junior Manx cyclists ready for British road series

The Welsh race will have similar terrain to the Isle of Man

Team Isle of Man Microgaming's junior team gets the national squad's season under way on Sunday at the first round of the British Junior Road Race series.

The 70-mile Cadence Road Race in Abergavenny is the first counting event in a series of seven races during 2011.

Manager Gary Mazzone said: "It's still early in the season but we will see how their winter training has fared."

The team is made up of Tim Cole, 16, Tom Mazzone and Warwick Sanderson, both 17, and Jonathon Cregeen, 18.

This season the series incorporates two stage races, including the Sleepwell Hotels Isle of Man Youth Tour in April, and two town centre criteriums.

Mazzone continued: "The Cadence event utilises 70 miles of undulating Welsh roads, similar to terrain in the Isle of Man. It will give the junior squad the opportunity to pit themselves against the top junior riders in the UK.

Peter Kennaugh is a previous winner of the series

"Obviously, one of the big goals for the junior team is the Commonwealth Youth Games here on the Island in September, so it's great to get the team together through the year."

The British Junior Road Race series has been a springboard to success for many riders over the years and has a strong connection with the Isle of Man.

It has been won by Manx riders Steve Joughin, Mike Doyle and Peter Kennaugh, who was recently names in the British squad for the Men's endurance race at the World Track Championships in Holland .

For many years it was known as the Peter Buckley Series, in memory of the Manxman who won gold in the 1966 Commonwealth Games road race.

The 2011 British Junior Road Race series:

March 20 - Cadence Junior Road Race, Abergavenny, South Wales

April 9 - Junior Tour of Bristol 2-Day

April 29 - Sleepwell Hotels Isle of Man Youth Tour

June 18 - Hetton Park Junior Crits, Hetton Park, Tyne & Wear

June 25 - CC Giro Curborough Crits, Curborough, Staffordshire

July 24 - Bath RC Junior Road Race, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire

August 27 - Junior Tour of Wales 3-Day, Brynmawr, South Wales