The event is made up of 5 individual races over three days totalling a staggering 200 miles of racing through the Welsh countryside including three Mountain top finishes. Each stage is a race in it’s own right with podium places and prizes, the rider recording the shortest total time elapsed over the 5 races become the overall winner. Pearl taking part for the second year wanted to improve on his performance in 2009 and did so in some style.

The highlights of the weekend for the Southender were firstly on Stage 3, the circuit race when in a howling wind a group of 6 riders, including the overall race leader and a world champion, tore the field apart from the start. Pearl worked hard in a second group to keep the leaders in sight and by working together held the break to just a few seconds. The speed at the front of the race was so high Pearl’s group lapped over half the field on the 1.75 mile circuit. Pearl finished the race in 18^th position and moved to 36 place in the overall general classification.

Then again on Stage 5, the toughest not just because it was the last stage but also because the course of 60 miles, over some of the hardest climbs in Wales finished on the top of the Tumble mountain. As the race started there was all to play for. The leaders on overall General Classification were just a few minutes apart, so with some riders with nothing to loose and others with everything to gain everyone was expecting a hard time. An early break saw a group of 9 go away which was soon joined by a chasing group of the same size. Pearl was in the main group some 2 minutes behind, not finding anyone else prepared to make a do or die effort to get across to the leaders, Pearl picked up the pace in an attempt to bridge the gap breaking free he was joined by just two other riders, one from the Scottish National squad and another from the Glendene club. Glendene already had a rider in the leading group and would not help share the work to get across. It took hard riding for 4 miles to catch the leaders, most of which Pearl had to do alone as the Scottish rider had faded. The leading bunch of 20 remained together until the bottom of the last massive climb to the finish along with a small group, Pearl attacked the bunch and for most of the way up the mountain was in fourth place. Pearl held off attackers until nearing the top he was caught by a chasing rider and literally at the top was passed by a charging Sam Harrison the Welsh National Champion. Pearl took 6^th place which meant he finished 22^nd in the general Classification.

Team Manager Alan Rosner said “a fantastic ride, he rode his socks off”

George Pearl at the Junior Tour of Wales

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Southend Wheelers George Pearl 17 took on World, British and Welsh national champions from a number of cycling disciplines over the Bank Holiday weekend in the Junior Tour of Wales. Pearl competed in the race, for 100 men under 18, as part of a four man team representing the British Cycling Eastern Region Development squad.
George Pearl in action at the Junior Tour of Wales

The event is made up of 5 individual races over three days totalling a staggering 200 miles of racing through the Welsh countryside including three Mountain top finishes. Each stage is a race in it’s own right with podium places and prizes, the rider recording the shortest total time elapsed over the 5 races become the overall winner. Pearl taking part for the second year wanted to improve on his performance in 2009 and did so in some style. The highlights of the weekend for the Southender were firstly on Stage 3, the circuit race when in a howling wind a group of 6 riders, including the overall race leader and a world champion, tore the field apart from the start. Pearl worked hard in a second group to keep the leaders in sight and by working together held the break to just a few seconds. The speed at the front of the race was so high Pearl’s group lapped over half the field on the 1.75 mile circuit. Pearl finished the race in 18^th position and moved to 36 place in the overall general classification. Then again on Stage 5, the toughest not just because it was the last stage but also because the course of 60 miles, over some of the hardest climbs in Wales finished on the top of the Tumble mountain. As the race started there was all to play for. The leaders on overall General Classification were just a few minutes apart, so with some riders with nothing to loose and others with everything to gain everyone was expecting a hard time. An early break saw a group of 9 go away which was soon joined by a chasing group of the same size. Pearl was in the main group some 2 minutes behind, not finding anyone else prepared to make a do or die effort to get across to the leaders, Pearl picked up the pace in an attempt to bridge the gap breaking free he was joined by just two other riders, one from the Scottish National squad and another from the Glendene club. Glendene already had a rider in the leading group and would not help share the work to get across. It took hard riding for 4 miles to catch the leaders, most of which Pearl had to do alone as the Scottish rider had faded. The leading bunch of 20 remained together until the bottom of the last massive climb to the finish along with a small group, Pearl attacked the bunch and for most of the way up the mountain was in fourth place. Pearl held off attackers until nearing the top he was caught by a chasing rider and literally at the top was passed by a charging Sam Harrison the Welsh National Champion. Pearl took 6^th place which meant he finished 22^nd in the general Classification. Team Manager Alan Rosner said “a fantastic ride, he rode his socks off”