SD teams becomes the title partner of the Junior Tour of Wales, the final event of the British Cycling Junior Road Series. The three-day five-stage race will be renamed the SD teams Junior Tour of Wales.
Caldicot-based SD teams & Cosmetic Repairs has been involved with cycling in Wales in since 2012. As well as a continued sponsor of the Welsh Cycling Awards, SD teams also supports two young Welsh cyclists, Scott Davies and Amy Roberts.
As a keen cyclist himself, Nick Jones, Director of the UK’s leading sealant specialists has been enthusiastic in showing his commitment to the sport.
Nick said: “We jumped at the opportunity to support the Junior Tour of Wales, recognising the important role it plays in the development of promising junior cyclists. There is a lot of cycling talent in Wales and it is great that young riders have the opportunity to compete in such a prestigious competition.”
With a network of offices across the UK, SD offers true national coverage by using a group of local sealant operatives to carry out specific projects. SD regularly works with a wide variety of well-known construction companies including BAM, Balfour Beatty, Willmott Dixon, Mace, Sir Robert McAlpine and Morgan Sindall.
Race Organiser Richard Hopkins said: “We are delighted to welcome SD teams as the race’s new title partner. They are already a big supporter of cycling in Wales, in particular via their support of Amy Roberts and Scott Davies. They are two of Wales’ brightest talents and it is great to see a company with the vision to help them on the most important steps of their professional racing careers.
Scott won the Junior Tour of Wales in 2013, so we are well aware what a great rider he is. Now SD teams are helping 100 of this year’s best juniors follow in his wheeltracks.
The company have stepped in to support the event at very short notice when its viability was under some threat – but are now helping us make this year’s edition the biggest, and hopefully the best ever. Thanks to their support we’re able to put on longer, tougher stages which will test the riders to their limits. We can’t wait for the race to get going.”
The SD teams Junior Tour of Wales gets underway at 10:30am on Saturday 27th August, with a time trial between Brynmawr and Blaenavon. The Mayor of Blaenau Gwent, Cllr Barrie Sutton, will then wave the riders off from Brynmawr’s Market Square at 3.00pm for the beginning of stage two. The riders will take on a 60 mile route around Crickhowell, Brecon, Libanus, Defynnog, past Dan yr Ogof Caves, through Glynneath and all the way to the summit of the Rhigos Mountain – the race’s first ever visit to the legendary climb.
Sunday 28th August sees the riders take on 11 challenging laps of the circuit at Parc Bryn Bach, before an afternoon stage around Abergavenny, Mitcheltroy and Raglan that is designed especially for the sprint specialists.
The race concludes on Monday 29 August with a tour round the Brecon Beacons National Park. Starting from Brynmawr at 10:30am, the riders will race through Merthyr Tydfil, Hirwaun, Penderyn, Storey Arms and Libanus before rounding the Brecon Bypass and heading toward Abergavenny. They will then tackle the fearsome final climb of the Tumble Mountain, where the final showdown for the yellow jersey will unfold.
