Team Isle of Man - Microgaming’s 2011 junior squad had a tough start to the British Junior Road Race Series in the opening race in Wales on Sunday (March 20). The four man squad competed in the 70-mile Cadence Road Race in Abergavenny, South Wales - it is the first counting event in the seven race series Jonathan Cregeen was Team Isle of Man-Microgaming’s top finisher crossing the line in the bunch in 36th place and two minutes behind the winner Jonathan Dibben (Hargroves Cycles). Warwick Sanderson finished 47th and 16 minutes down and Tim Cole got caught behind a crash after four miles and never regained contact with the peloton. Tom Mazzone suffered a bout of food poisoning and although he started the race had to abandon after the first lap. The British Junior Road Race series has been a springboard to success for many riders over the years and has a strong connection with the Isle of Man. It has been won by Manx riders Steve Joughin, Mike Doyle and Peter Kennaugh and for many years was known as the Peter Buckley Series - named in memory of the Manxman who won gold in the 1966 Commonwealth Games road race. The next event for in the series for Team Isle of Man - Microgaming’s junior squad is the Junior Tour of Bristol Two-Day on April 9. The full list of events in the British Junior Road Race Series is as follows: March 20 - Cadence Junior Road Race, Abergavenny, South Wales. April 9 - Junior Tour of Bristol 2-Day. April 29 - Sleepwell Hotels Isle of Man Youth Tour. June 18 - Hetton Park Junior Crits, Hetton Park, Tyne & Wear. June 25 - CC Giro Curborough Crits, Curborough, Staffordshire. July 24 - Bath RC Junior Road Race, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. August 27 - Junior Tour of Wales 3-Day, Brynmawr, South Wales. - ENDS -