Caitlin Peters (i-Team CC) and Jake Wright (Zappi’s RT) were crowned National Junior 10-Mile Championships after a wind-swept title race was staged in Cumbria on Sunday.

Hampshire-based Peters, who was celebrating her 16th birthday on the day of the race, clocked exactly 24 minutes to take the title by 17 seconds from Miriam Jessett (Tyneside Vagabonds CC).

Meanwhile Bury 18-year-old Jake Wright covered the course in 20-15 to also win by 17 seconds from Josh Sandman (Backstedt).

Both Peters and Wright reported difficult swirling winds that offered no advantage in either direction on the L1021 course, which took riders from the banks of Bassenthwaite Lake along the A66 to the south of Cockermouth, before returning.

Second in last year’s junior National 10, Wright was the junior National 25 champion in 2016, and has been focusing on a busy road programme with Zappi’s Race Team which has seen him ride in UCI junior races across France, Belgium and Spain over the last few months.

But he said: “This was a big target for me as I was second last year so I really wanted to go one better. I’ve not been doing much time trialling because of my road commitments with Zappi’s but I’ve been riding well and feel strong.

“There was a swirling wind and it was difficult on the way out, so I expected it to be easier on the way back. But it was a cross-headwind and made it quite unstable for the last few miles.”

After a race in Italy next week, Wright is aiming to return to the UK the following weekend where he plans to target the national junior 10-mile competition record on the V718 in East Yorkshire.

Meanwhile, Caitlin Peters also reported difficult and windy conditions during her ride.

“The course was more windy than I was expecting. There were quite a few big gusts near the start, but I didn’t feel much benefit on the way back either,” she said. “I recce’d the course yesterday and got used to it a bit, but I didn’t really know where the pot holes were or what gears were best.

“It’s a long way to come from Portsmouth, so I’m really glad I got the win. It’s a weird way to spend your 16th birthday! I’m going to head home and spend the rest of the day with family, opening some presents now!”

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* More photos and reports from the event will follow as soon as possible.