The British Cycling Junior Road Series is the premier road racing series in the UK for junior riders. This explainer tells you what it is and how it works.
What is it?
The series comprises a set of one-day and stage races for both junior men and women. As explained below, points are awarded to the top finishers in each race, with the overall series winners being the riders with the most points. The series helps to highlight future prospects; many of the riders at the top of the standings tables have gone on to forge successful careers as bike racers (see ‘Past winners’, below).
Last season, Leo Hayter (VC Londres, now Development Team Sunweb) won the men’s nine-race series in 2019, whilst Abi Smith (Campinense ‐ Velo Performance) won the three-race women’s equivalent.
What are the races?
As the last sentence highlights, there is a significant disparity in the number of races for men and women. This continues in 2020, albeit with the welcome addition of the very first Junior Women’s Tour of Wales.
The junior men’s series boasts more races, race days and stages than the senior men’s National Road Series. Whilst the men’s National Road Series is rumoured to include 7 one-day races in 2020, as well as the 2-day Tour of the Reservoir, the junior men’s series is blessed with 9 races, including 4 stage races. The jewel in the crown is undoubtedly the Junior Tour of Wales, which acts as the grand finale to the series and has an illustrious list of past winners.
Date
Round
Race
Location
22 Mar
1
Hatherleigh Junior Road Race
Devon
17-19 Apr
2
Junior Tour of the Mendip
Somerset
17 May
3
Cadence Junior Road Race
Powys
22-24 May
4
Isle of Man Youth & Junior Tour
Isle of Man
20-21 Jun
5
Spokes Junior Road Race
Fife
28 Jun
6
Monmouthshire Junior Grand Prix
Monmouthshire
5 Jul
7
Junior CiCLE Classic
Leicestershire
26 Jul
8
Bath RC Junior RR
Somerset
28-31 Aug
9
Junior Tour of Wales
Blaenau Gwent
Women’s junior series
The women’s series is comprised of 3 stage races and a one-day race this year. The addition of the Junior Women’s Tour of Wales is an exciting development, which will hopefully encourage more race organisers to follow suit.
Date
Round
Race
Location
4-5 Apr
1
Witham Hall 2-Day
Lincolnshire
17-19 Apr
2
Junior Women’s Tour of the Mendip
Somerset
2 Aug
3
Chitterne Road Race
Wiltshire
29-31 Aug
4
Junior Women’s Tour of Wales
Blaenau Gwent
Junior National Road Championships
The Junior National Road Championships feature a road race and time trial. They are not part of the Junior Road Series as such, but nonetheless carry the prestige crowning the national junior champions in both disciplines.
Date
Race
Location
18 Jul
Time trial
North West (exact venue TBC)
19 Jul
Road race
North West (exact venue TBC)
Scoring
2019 Junior Tour of Wales. Stage 4 – Pembrey Country Park – Nantgaredig 99.7km / 62 miles Photo: David Partridge
For both the men’s and women’s series, there is an overall rider classification. Points will be awarded for:
The first 20 places in each single day road race and overall classifications in stage races: 30, 28, 26, 24, 22, 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
The first 10 places in individual stages in stage races: 12, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
The overall winner of the series will be the rider who gains the highest total number of points across the series, with all rounds to count.
Past winners
The men’s series has been running since 2006 and past winners include Simon Yates, Pete Kennaugh, Matt Gibson, Alex Peters and Erick Rowsell. The women’s series has much less history, with Abi Smith (2019) April Tracey (2018) the two series winners to date.
Men
Year
Rider
Team
2019
Leo Hayter
VC Londres
2018
Mason Hollyman
Zappi Racing Team
2017
Oscar Mingay
Giant Cycling Club – Halo Films
2016
Charlie Meredith
Giant Cycling Club – Halo Films
2015
Harry Hardcastle
Speedflex Race Team
2014
Matthew Gibson
Velocity WD-40
2013
Jake Kelly
Manx Viking Wheelers CC
2012
Alex Peters
Mosquito Bikes
2011
Alistair Slater
Hargroves Cycles-Trant-Next-Specialised-GSI
2010
Simon Yates
Maxgear RT
2009
Joe Perrett
Glendene CC/Bike Trax Junior Team
2008
Erick Rowsell
Team Corridori
2007
Peter Kennaugh
Pinarello RT
2006
Andrew Griffiths
Glendene CC / Bike Trax
Women
Year
Rider
Team
2019
Abi Smith
Campinense ‐ Velo Performance
2018
April Tacey
Team22
Read more
The British Cycling pages on the Junior Road Series, for men and women, can be found here.
The full set of regulations for the junior men’s series can be found here. The junior women’s series regulations are here.
The British Cycling Junior Road Series is the premier road racing series in the UK for junior riders. This explainer tells you what it is and how it works.
What is it?
The series comprises a set of one-day and stage races for both junior men and women. As explained below, points are awarded to the top finishers in each race, with the overall series winners being the riders with the most points. The series helps to highlight future prospects; many of the riders at the top of the standings tables have gone on to forge successful careers as bike racers (see ‘Past winners’, below).
Last season, Leo Hayter (VC Londres, now Development Team Sunweb) won the men’s nine-race series in 2019, whilst Abi Smith (Campinense ‐ Velo Performance) won the three-race women’s equivalent.
What are the races?
As the last sentence highlights, there is a significant disparity in the number of races for men and women. This continues in 2020, albeit with the welcome addition of the very first Junior Women’s Tour of Wales.
Men’s junior series
The junior men’s series boasts more races, race days and stages than the senior men’s National Road Series. Whilst the men’s National Road Series is rumoured to include 7 one-day races in 2020, as well as the 2-day Tour of the Reservoir, the junior men’s series is blessed with 9 races, including 4 stage races. The jewel in the crown is undoubtedly the Junior Tour of Wales, which acts as the grand finale to the series and has an illustrious list of past winners.
Women’s junior series
The women’s series is comprised of 3 stage races and a one-day race this year. The addition of the Junior Women’s Tour of Wales is an exciting development, which will hopefully encourage more race organisers to follow suit.
Junior National Road Championships
The Junior National Road Championships feature a road race and time trial. They are not part of the Junior Road Series as such, but nonetheless carry the prestige crowning the national junior champions in both disciplines.
Scoring
For both the men’s and women’s series, there is an overall rider classification. Points will be awarded for:
The overall winner of the series will be the rider who gains the highest total number of points across the series, with all rounds to count.
Past winners
The men’s series has been running since 2006 and past winners include Simon Yates, Pete Kennaugh, Matt Gibson, Alex Peters and Erick Rowsell. The women’s series has much less history, with Abi Smith (2019) April Tracey (2018) the two series winners to date.
Men
Women
Read more
The British Cycling pages on the Junior Road Series, for men and women, can be found here.
The full set of regulations for the junior men’s series can be found here. The junior women’s series regulations are here.
Featured photo: David Partridge / 2019 Junior Tour of Wales
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