Perthshire is to play a key role in staging an event widely regarded as one Europe’s premier competitions for emerging cycling talent.
More than 150 riders from six countries are due to take part in the Youth Tour of Scotland, which is to be staged between April 1 and 4.
Hosted by governing body Cycling Scotland and backed by more than 50 team managers, the showpiece is specifically designed to give cyclists under the age of 16 the chance to race on closed roads instead of being restricted to small circuits – something which doesn’t usually happen until riders reach their late teens.
Set to be held for the ninth time, teams will be based at Strathallan School and battle it out for top honours over the course of five stages.
Previous participants include Tom Pidcock – who won gold in the men’s mountain bike cross-country at the Tokyo Olympic Games last summer at the age of just 21.
Organisers have said both the opening prologue – a team time trial – and the first stage will take place on roads in and around Forteviot on Saturday, April 2.
Riders will then take on stages two and three – both mass-start road races – starting from St Davids near Madderty the following day.
The competition, set to feature 156 athletes in total, will conclude on Monday, April 4, with what is known as a kermesse – a mass-start road race on a smaller circuit – in Forgandenny near the overall event HQ.
The Cycling Scotland spokesperson stressed there will be strict Covid-19 mitigation measures in place, such as regular lateral flow testing “to protect riders, staff, and the general community.”
In addition to Pidcock, double Paralympic medallist Jenny Holl has also taken part in the past as has Alfie George, who is originally from Abernyte and is a professional road cyclist.
Event director Julie Erskine said: “We’re incredibly pleased to be returning to Strathallan after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, so the 2022 edition will certainly be a special one.
“Welcoming teams from across the UK and Ireland to one of Europe’s premier youth stage races is always a high point in our calendar and we would encourage anyone from the local area to come down and watch the racing over the weekend, as it plans to be five stages of thrilling racing, with some of the stars of tomorrow in action.”
