Memories from the race

Scott Davies, 2013 winner

“I’m really pleased I won it and cherish the memories. It was probably what helped me to get a contract with Madisongenesis in 2014. I came fifth in my first year and that gave me a heads up that I could do alright the year after. I was comfortable, but on the last day [Eddie] Dunbar attacked. He was only a first year but had a big reputation. I remember thinking ‘uh-oh’ but fortunately I held on.”

Alex Dowsett, 2005 winner; 2005 and 2006 KOM winner

“The first year I did it, Edvald Boasson Hagen was there and he was the child prodigy of bike racing back then. I remember on one of the stages I cleared off with him and he just demolished me in the sprint for the line. In the last stage I got in the break and then won up the Tumble, which was quite unexpected and quite out of character for me. As a junior, it’s the closest you feel to being a pro.

Owain Doull, 2010 points classification winner

“It’s always at the end of the year, just before the Junior World Championships and it’s massive. Obviously with me being from Wales, I know all the roads so it’s even more of a big deal. It’s just a really well-organised race. There aren’t many races for juniors, at least not in the UK, where you can race five stages and ride such a variety of parcours in three days.”

Ben Swift, 2005 stage winner

“I have mixed memories. The first year I did it, near enough the whole peloton crashed, and I came off quite badly, so that wasn’t so good. The next year I came back and won the first road stage solo which was good but then I lost it on the final day. When I look at that field, we had Edvald Boasson Hagen and quite a few top riders now who were in that race. It has managed to attract a lot of international riders in its time.”

Pete Kennaugh, 2006 runner-up; 2007 KOM winner

“It’s an amazing race, each stage is hard, and there are good climbs. It had a bit of everything and was something you always looked forward to as a junior. I have some really nice memories from racing down there. On one stage I punctured early on and I was minutes out the back but I managed to ride all the way back to the front group over the course of the stage. That sticks. It was a bit of an epic day.”