Despite his initial breakaway being caught by a two-man chasing group, FlandersColor Galloo’s Joshua Tarling powered ahead once more for a sprint victory at the 7th edition of the Junior CiCLE Classic.
Scaling three climbs and strength-sapping starred sectors of rough terrain, the second round of the British Cycling Junior Men’s Road Series was no easy day in the saddle.
The start of the 105-kilometre race was broken up by mechanicals and crashes as the peloton rode out from Melton Mowbray, resulting in a temporary neutralisation on the Somerberg. Rider safety is paramount and as all medical staff were preoccupied, none could have attended a later crash if one occurred, leading the commissaires to halt the race.
As soon as the race began once more on the hardest-ranked sector at five stars and 2,200m in length, Tarling attacked and built a 2’23”advantage on the peloton.
He was caught before the final lap into Melton Mowbray by the chasing pair of Finlay Pickering (Fensham Howes-MAS Design) and Zachary Walker (Utmost IOM Junior Cycling Team), absorbing Tarling to form a leading trio, and the FlandersColor Galloo rider kicked ahead in the fierce sprint finish to claim the win.
Speaking after his victory, Tarling said:
“There was a bit of a lull, so I went. I know I was away on my own but to be honest it felt a bit easier because there was less kicking. When they said people were coming across it was a delight because I had a bit of help, and then it was touch and go whether we were going to get caught for a while but then once they put the cars back behind it was a bit of a mental goal.”
Pickering edged ahead of Walker in the sprint for second on the podium, with third-placed Walker securing the King of the Bergs prize.
