The best youth riders from around the country were at Redbridge Cycling Centre on Saturday for the Lee Valley Youth National, round 3 of the National Youth Series. It turned out to be a good event for the Wheelers, achieving 4 top ten places in the Youth A category.
Ellen Bennett was on great form winning the bunch sprint in the U16 Girls race by two clear lengths after Zoe Backstedt (Storey Racing) had soloed to victory in her usual fashion, close behind was Ella Coleman in 4th place. Despite much youthful attacking on the Hoggenberg, the other races all came down to bunch sprints. Joe Kiely grabbed 3rd in a close sprint in the Boys race with Euan Woodliffe’s late surge earning him a well deserved 7th. Nathan Hardy was unfortunate to come away with road rash after a collision.
Ella and Ellen 
Joe and Euan
Sunday’s big news was the spectacular arrival of Louis Sutton to road racing. After crashing out of a crit at the MK Bowl in March, Louis had been focussing on MTB XC, and picking up some decent results. The Flamme Rouge Road Race was only his second outing on tarmac this year, and first ever road race – over 5 laps of the rolling Great Barford circuit. Well supported by teammates Adam Lightfoot (10th) and Jamie Dean, Louis escaped on the final lap and won a storming two-up sprint from Billy Fadden (Flamme Rouge).
Lee Valley Youth National – National Youth Circuit Series Rd 3
U16 Girls
2 Ellen Bennett
4 Ella Coleman
24 Iona Moir
U16 Boys
3 Joe Kiely
7 Euan Woodliffe
DNF Nathan Hardy
U14 Girls
34 Millie Coleman
36 Beth Bennett
U14 Boys
17 Calum Moir
18 Mark Lightfoot
27 Dylan Starkey
36 Ethan Storti
Flamme Rouge Great Barford Road Race 3/4
1 Louis Sutton
10 Adam Lightfoot
DNF Jamie Dean
North Road CC Circuit Race feat. ECCA Junior Championship E/1/2/3
15 Archie Peet (3rd Junior)