Team Manx Telecom rider Chris Nicholson (pictured) was the top Manx finisher in the Eddie Soens Memorial Handicap race in Merseyside last weekend.
The 17-year-old was part of a group of junior riders who made the decisive break of the day and outwitted the professionals in the field which included two Olympic champions.
Nicholson and Team Manx Telecom team mate Tom Black took to the start line alongside 163 of Britain’s top juniors and pro team riders.
Beijing Olympics team pursuit gold medallists Ed Clancy, who won the Eddie Soens race last year, and Steven Burke were on the start line in the colours of the Motorpoint-Marshalls Pasta squad and Team Sky pro Ben Swift took a break from racing on the continent to compete in the UK.
The Eddie Soens race was on a 1.6km circuit around Aintree Racecourse with Nicholson setting off in the junior group three minutes ahead of the elite riders.
From the off the juniors set a fast pace and took advantage of the fact that there was no headwind to hamper their progress and favour the stronger riders in the chasing elite group.
After five laps of the 30 lap race a number of the first group juniors had gained a lap and got on to the back of the elite group.
Despite a flurry of attacks from some of the big hitters in the pro teams, including Swift and four-time Eddie Soens winner Tony Gibb (Cyclepremier-Metaltek), the juniors held on and contested the sprint for the win.
Joshua Edmondson (Motorpoint-Marshalls Pasta) won after getting a superb lead out from his team mates Clancy, Burke and Andy Tennant who are all part of Great Britain’s first string team pursuit squad.
Simon Yates (Maxgear RT) was second, Robert Crampton (Wills Wheels CC) third and Nicholson a creditable fourth.
Tom Black started with the senior riders’ group and finished in the second group to cross the line in 63rd place.
After the race Nicholson said he was pleased with his fourth place in what had been his first road race of the season. He will now focus on the British national junior road race series.
The Eddie Soens race is in its 49th year and is a traditional curtain raiser to the UK season. It is named after the legendary Merseysider who was one of Britain’s best cycling coaches, indeed Soens is regarded by many in the sport as Britain’s best ever cycling coach.
He was mentor to Olympic champion and triple Tour de France prologue winner Chris Boardman among many cycling champions.
While Soens’ first passion was for cycling, he also coached boxer John Conteh who became world light-heavyweight champion.
