Ffosyffin-based junior cyclist Josh Tarling, riding for the Belgian-based FlandersColor-Galloo team, has had a stellar start to the road racing season culminating in victory at the CiCLE Classic in Melton Mowbray last month.

After some early build-up races, the season kicked off properly in May with some of the biggest races on the calendar, including the Junior Tour of Yorkshire and the Junior CiCLE Classic. In both events Josh was joined by Clarach’s Griff Lewis, riding for the Backstedt Bike Performance Team and both rode strongly throughout.

In the two-day, three-stage Tour of Yorkshire Josh managed to place second in the time trial stage after being delayed by traffic and defended his position over the final two stages to take an eventual fourth place, tied on the same time as third.

Griff rode confidently in the big bunch throughout, taking a great eighth place on stage two.

However, the biggest race of the season was the Junior CiCLE Classic held over hilly, narrow and rough roads near Melton Mowbray. The race features long stretches of unsurfaced road and gravel tracks that makes the event tricky to finish and demanding to win. Josh was in the early smaller attacks before taking advantage of a brief lull just 15 miles into the 65-mile event. He attacked hard, and quickly built up a lead while Griff rode in the bunch joined by local riders Jack Ramsbottom and Dafydd Wright.

Despite a brief stoppage due to crashes Josh continued to build his lead to over one minute with 40 miles to go. Eventually, as the hills wore on, Josh was joined by Finlay Pickering (Fensham Howes Racing) and Zac Walker (Isle of Man), forming a three-man group that built a lead of close to two minutes. This lead group would eventually sprint for the line with Josh taking a commanding win.

Griff, despite requiring a bike change, sprinted home in the second group taking a great 12th place.

Both Josh and Griff then moved on to the Otley Grand Prix last Wednesday, a tough circuit race around the town centre that featured a tough drag to the top of the circuit and a 50mph drop back down to the finish.

Griff rode the supporting senior race and rode strongly throughout, eventually taking second place in a very tight sprint finish that needed the photo finish to determine the winner.

Josh, a first category rider, lined up in the Elite event joined by 138 other riders featuring all of the UK-based professional riders and was in for a tough night. Never afraid to attack, he launched an attack on the fourth lap and was quickly joined by Rob Scott (DHB Canyon) and Matt Gibson (Ribble Weldtite) and they quickly built a 20-second lead. Josh, a junior riding on restricted gears, rode out of his skin to keep the breakaway clear of the rapidly closing bunch taking a fabulous third place in front of many of the country’s best senior riders.

Both riders now line up this weekend in the National Junior Championships in Wiltshire while Josh is waiting to hear about selection to the European Track Championships and World Road Race Championships in the coming months.