FIFTEEN year-old cyclist Joshua Tarling achieved one of his season’s goals when he set a new 10-mile time trial national record of 18 minutes and 55 seconds.

Josh, from Ffos-y-ffin, and a member of Backstedt Cycling and West Wales Cycle Racing Team, is a strong time triallist and has been showing great form in local and regional events over the past few weeks.

After breaking his collarbone in February, one of the goals he set himself whilst recovering was to beat the national 10 mile record for juvenile riders (Under 16s) which was set nine years ago by now professional rider Ryan Mullen. The record stood at 19:14 and represented a big step up from Josh’s 2018 best time of 20:41.

Some really strong rides in the local Ystwyth CC time trial series, however, showed that he was heading in the right direction and a time of 19:34 at the Welsh National qualifiers in Resolven in May showed he had improved considerably.

That ride was good enough to get him second place in the senior race on the day.

The signs were even better when on 13 June he travelled to Abergavenny to ride an event against some of the best time triallists in Wales and the South West.

On a much windier evening, he still managed to produce a 19:34 minute ride and placed second again, just 15 seconds behind elite rider Scott Davies, who has just finished the professional Giro d’Italia.

Saturday saw Josh take to the start line at the Hemel Hempstead CC event, near Tring, on a fast course that should have got him close to breaking the record.

The day wasn’t the best, with a strong wind from the side and squally heavy showers making conditions very tough.

Into his stride quickly, Josh looked focussed and determined on the outward leg, and made the most of the winds on the return leg to set a blistering 18:55 - to take the national record by 19 seconds.

This is the first time a juvenile rider has broken the 19 minute barrier, and required an average speed of 31.7mph.

With a new PB at 25 miles of 49:34, Josh’s next target is the national 25 mile record.

Not content with taking the record, Josh then lined up the next day at the Welsh 100 mile Time Trial Championships, held on a course between Raglan, Monmouth and Abergavenny.On a horribly wet and windy day he again pulled out a cracking ride to finish fifth in the senior race and win the Junior / Juvenile prize with a time of just 3 hours 46 minutes and 40 seconds, an incredibly fast time and one that any senior rider would be pleased with.

Josh, however, is looking back over his shoulder as his 12 year old younger brother Finlay had also been setting the Time Trial competitions alight this season.

In his first season of riding these events, he has competed in the same events as Josh and pushed his 10 mile time trial time down to just 20 minutes 34 seconds.

This is unheard of for someone of his age and it is hoped that he will be challenging Josh’s new record in a few years.