CYCLING in Wales showed again that it is in great health as hundreds of youngsters took to the streets to take part in the Welsh Open Criterium Youth Races on Friday evening.

Stars like Abergavenny’s own Becky James, now a multiple world senior champion, began their cycling journeys by riding the Youth Races and now the next generation to follow James and Tour de France stars Geraint Thomas and Luke Rowe went through their paces as their own riding adventures began.

Cian Evans won the youngest age group of the Youth Races by taking the Under-Eights category from Arthur Thomas and Ben Gillette.

David Morris, of the M&D Cycles team, was the Under-Tens champion for the year, with West Wales Cycling Team’s Finlay Tarling in second and Kyle Jones, of Maindy Fliyers in Cardiff, the third to cross the line.

Cardiff Jiff youngster Bevan Smith came home first in the Under-12s category in a tremendous race that saw two West Wales Cycling Team riders finish second and third - Joshua Tarling and Griff Lewis.

But the best of the night came in the Under 14 race when two Towy Riders club members battled it out for first place in a classic sprint finish that even Mark Cavendish would be proud of.

Guto Dafydd and Owain Roberts were neck and neck coming up to the line as both stretched every sinew to win the title.

It came down to the final few metres and Dafydd just had the legs to beat his clubmate to the top of the podium. Maindy Flyer Jack Lee was third.

And the final race of the night the Under-16s, was yet another close and tense affair before Louis Rose Davies came home in front of Daniel Coomb to take first place, with Harry Gillette in third.