The Junior Tour of Ireland cycle race had been running for three years when Welsh cycling enthusiast John Richards thought a Welsh offspring might be a runner.

He gathered a family of supporters around and the Junior Tour of Wales was born. This weekend that Welsh youngster celebrates its 27th birthday ­ with Richards still the event's father-figure.

Now a pub landlord in North Gwent, he has fashioned the race into a three-day, five-stage race which has attracted riders who have gone on to the professional ranks: Of the current crop, British road race champion David Millar and recent Tour de France debutants Geraint Thomas and Mark Cavendish have all been Junior Tour of Wales competitors in their teens.

On Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday 100 riders from all over the British mainland, teams from Ireland and Ulster plus a Netherlands squad will sweat and toil over the roads in Powys and Gwent for the right to win and wear the yellow jersey. These are no ordinary youngsters.

For many, cycling is already their choosen way of life. Take series leader Peter Kennaugh for example. His home is the Isle of Man but these days he¹s almost an exile.

A key part of British Cycling's Olympic Development Programme (ODP), 18-year-old Kennaugh already has a string of successes to his name in the two years since he made his GB debut. This summer he won two golds in the European track championships in Germany and currently leads the race series which the Junior of Wales is the final part. His IoM team will be out to make sure there are no slip-ups.

Kennaugh spends much time in the winter honing his speed and bike handling skills on the Manchester and Newport velodromes, transferring those skills to the road in summer alongside ODP teammates, such as Luke Rowe and Adam Blythe.

This weekend they're rivals and both will be out to stop Pete's progress.

Rowe is one of the riders with great expectations on his young shoulders. The Cardiff Ajax clubman dons the Wales shirt to try for the 27th time to get a first Welsh winner on the podium.

With Mike Webb, from Cardiff, Cwmcarn's Andrew Williams and Gareth James from Abergavenny alongside him, Rowe is certain to figure prominently in what promises to be a classic.

Race organiser Richards would be ecstatic with a home win. "I started this race with the idea of bringing on Welsh riders ­ and getting a winner. We've had a few near misses . . . with a rider penalty for crossing white lines even robbing a local lad of victory. Every year I look at the field and hope. Maybe this is the year."

Whether it's this year or Wales is still left waiting, one thing is certain: the race's famous finish on Tumble Mountain near Keeper's Pond.

Every August Bank Holiday these young hopefuls have to face the final drag (see above) and to understand what this race means to competitors and spectators alike, drive up and park on its upper reaches and see moments of real endeavour.

The first sight of the leader, be it on his own or with a challenger or two . . . red-faced riders not willing to let anyone best them on the day . . . and then the also rans­ the real heart of the race with the never-say-die spirit and buckling bodies as they gasp for air and energy for weary legs.

And all the time, relatives, friends and fans shout encouragement as the lads end the toughest three days of their lives."

Article by Roger Sims