JENSON Young was not going to be beaten on his home turf.
The Hemingfield rider, 21, emerged from the pack to cross the line first in the Yorkshire Under 23 classic road race on Sunday.
The race saw the best young riders in the country battle it out on a hilly course on roads north of Penistone, taking in Ingbirchworth and Upper Denby.
It maintains a strong run of form for the ROKiT-SRCT rider.
He had enjoyed a very strong cyclocross campaign in the winter but classes this victory as his biggest on the road. He was also pleased to see his tactics pay off.
“I knew I had good form going into the race and that I wanted to win,” said Young. “From the start I was saving as much energy as I could.
“The course was pretty hilly and the heat made it even harder.
“Midway through the race I forced a split up the main climb and managed to break away with a small group.
“We worked fairly well together until the last couple of laps. There weren’t really any attacks on the final lap.
“I think everyone was tired.
“It ended up coming down to a sprint and I knew I still had pretty good legs so I launched early and no-one came around me.
“This is probably my biggest win on the road and to do it on my home roads was pretty cool.”
Young is set to compete in the Lincoln GP this weekend against an elite field.
Meanwhile, Birdwell Wheeler Trevor Mayne competed in the Sheffrec CC 25-mile Open Time-Trial at Hatfield Woodhouse. His time of 59-38, at just over 25mph, placed him tenth overall and fourth in the 50-59 year age group.
Tuesday saw the first of the club’s series of ten five-mile time-trials at Thurgoland. Fastest on the night was Josh Power of Barnsley Road Club in 12-46. Fastest Wheeler was Joe Woodhouse in 16-13, just ten seconds ahead of club-mate Paul Heggie.
