ROWSELL TAKES JUNIOR TOUR OF WALES

National junior road race champion Erick Rowsell continued his recent fine form with victory in the five-stage Junior Tour of Wales over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Britain?s best junior riders came up against opposition from Belgium and Norway over the three days of racing based on the town of Nantyglo.

Rowsell lost the yellow jersey on the second stage having won the morning prologue but rode consistently to reclaim the lead the following day and finish the race eight seconds clear of Norwegian Johan Fredr Ziesler (Nymark Cycling Team). Glendene?s Joe Perrett took third spot on the podium.

The win gave the 18-year-old Corridori rider overall victory in the season-long junior road race series. Luke Rowe (Rapha-Condor-Recycling) gave Rowsell a run for his money over the 10 rounds but, sadly, the young Welshman missed out racing on home roads due to illness. The pair were neck-and-neck since the opening round, the Martyn Ashfield Classic in March, when just eight seconds separated them after three stages.

Rowsell thrives on the tough courses ? his other win in the series came at the Tour of Sussex at Beachy Head in May ? and seems to find a lack of team mates no hindrance.

He now joins up with the track squad for the under 23 European Championships starting on Wednesday in Poland, then applies to the GB Olympic Academy, hoping to follow in the footsteps of sister (and team pursuit World Champion) Joanna.

FINAL OVERALL

1. Erick Rowsell COR 7:45:56

2. Johan Fredr Ziesler NCC 7:46:04

3. Joe Perrett GDA 7:46:49

4. Tosh Vandersande AVI 7:47:24

5. Alexander King GWR 7:47:38

6. Tim Kennaugh IOM 7:48:36

7. Thomas Optebeeck AVI 7:48:46

8. Mark Christian IOM 7:48:49

9. Eliot Letaer AVI 7:49:06

10. Sam Redding GWR 7:49:09