Junior Tour of Wales winner ‘proud' to join star-studded winner list

Tyler Hannay puts in attacking ride to snatch jersey on final stage, reports Vern Pitt

- Vern Pitt

The winner of the Junior Tour of Wales has said he “raised his eyebrows” when he read the list of past winners of the bellwether race that includes Dan Martin, Tom Pidcock, and Alex Dowsett.

Tyler Hannay (Utmost IOM) said he knew he “was capable” of winning but after a season littered with punctures and mechanicals was not taking anything for granted. “There’s a difference between knowing in yourself that you can do it and going out there and doing it. I’m over the moon to have done it, to be honest. I’m really, really proud of myself,” he told CW on his 18th birthday last week.

The race, this year over four stages around South Wales, has a reputation as one where talent shows itself. Recent winners include new Ineos Grenadiers signing Ben Tullett, Bahrain Victorious rider Fred Wright and Vuelta an España podium finisher Hugh Carthy.

“At the moment, I didn’t really think about the past winners. But when I finished and had got changed, I was scrolling through my phone reading all the past winners, it really did make me raise my eyebrows. I can’t believe I’m on that list,” Hannay said.

Manxman Hannay first got into cycling on his local BMX track before he’d hit his teens. Then he progressed to local races and the road and started winning at 13. However, he’d only won one national-level race prior to the Junior Tour of Wales.