Team News: Steve Joughin Academy

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Jim Golden reports on the Steve Joughin Academy team launch at Stoke on Trent

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Team News: Steve Joughin Academy

pro vision 2 academy launch

Sitting under a picture of their main sponsor Steve Joughin in his impressive pomp, the four young riders hoping to emulate his success, paraded their distinctive new kit at the Pro Vision Steve Joughin Academy team launch at the company’s Stoke on Trent HQ.

All juniors from left to right Tomas Owens,16, Owen Line, 17, Ryan Coulton, 17 and Morgan Hughes, 17 — they will be riding a comprehensive season of home and European races with a trip to the USA thrown in with their manager and mentor Peter Kay whose idea the team was.

And they got off to a flying start snatching fifth, sixth and seventh places in their first race, the Clayton Velo Classic handicap where along with other juniors they held off all but two of the elite riders with Owen Line, Ryan Coulton and Tomas Owens showing off their new colours at the front.

At the launch Owen had been asked what their plan was for the Clayton race and he had said:’ See how it plays out at the start and wait for the strong riders to go and go with them.’ He must be psychic!

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Steve could not have been more pleased. He said:’ We could not have asked for more from the lads. It is a dream start. Let’s hope this is a sign of things to come for the season. I am absolutely delighted with their showing.’

He is hoping to use his network of contacts in Belgium, Holland and France to get the riders into some top junior races with his main target the Junior Tour of Flanders with Tours of Wales and Ireland also being on the roster.

In addition to substantial backing from Pro Vision, the lads are being backed by Black Mamba through Fortress Distribution Ltd distributors of industrial gloves, OTE nutrition and Continental Tyres and in a novel development their parents will also be backers ( not that parents of all young riders don’t dig deep into their pockets!)

 

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Steve, former pro road champion and as the backdrop behind the riders reminded those present at the launch, winner of some of the premier races in Britain at the time he was racing, said:’ I know what help and guidance mean to young riders setting out from my experience coming over from the Isle of Man.

‘So when Peter approached me for help I was happy to get on board and form a team to get these lads on the roads to learn their trade and hopefully make it into the professional ranks in time with Peter taking them to the races he has been visiting for years with juniors.

‘ They have already had success and this year will be riding the junior National Series and an extensive team of races in Europe where they will face a serious learning curve but I am confident that with Peter guiding them they will get a great grounding.’

Peter, who was a soigneur with the Percy Bilton team when Steve rode for them in the Tour of Britain, said:’ I want to take them abroad where they will face some real racing. I am sure they will find a few potholes on the way but I hope that it will ultimately be smooth in what they realise already is a tough sport.

‘Whatever level they reach I hope in years to come they will still want to ring me up and invite me to go for a drink. I just want them to get the best out of themselves in their racing and that they will learn discipline and respect for themselves and others.’

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