He learned his bike-riding skills with his school mates on New Mill rec.

And come Sunday, Gabz Cullaigh will again be riding through New Mill but this time in the company of some of the world’s top cyclists.

Gabz, 19, will be competing for Team GB in the inaugural Tour de Yorkshire against the likes of Sir Bradley Wiggins, Ed Clancy, Marcel Kittel and Samuel Sanchez.

The fact that all will be racing past the field where a young Gabz practised home-made jumps with his mates isn’t lost on the teenager.

“I’ve raced all over the world but it is so exciting to be on a bike going through my home village, just a few yards from my house.

“It’s going to a tremendous thrill to be part of the Tour that’s coming to Huddersfield”.

Gabz was chosen to be part of the British Cycling Academy while studying at Huddersfield New College and is now very much a full-time athlete.

He is based in Stockport, close to the Manchester Velodrome, and can spend up to 32 hours a week in training.

It means he doesn’t get back home to New Mill too much but over the past few days has taken the chance to get out and about on training runs on the hills on which he feels at home.

He’s sponsored by Hade Edge butcher Brindon Addy and has been able to spend time with brother Fabian, 18, and sister Hermione, 15.

The Tour de Yorkshire route will see the riders race down the long sweeping road into New Mill from the Sovereign crossroads at Shepley, and that’s a hill which Gabz has ridden many hundreds of times, to end his practice runs.

But he recalls his earliest cycling memories were with his pals from Wooldale Junior School in the recreation ground.

“We built small jumps and raced around at speed top get over them.

“That was my first taste of cycling but when I went up to Holmfirth High School, I started to take it more seriously. I joined Holme Valley Wheelers - the former club of Olympic champion Ed Clancy - and also went on training rides with Huddersfield Star Wheelers.

“I started in youth races and was delighted when the Academy came in for me.

“It is what I wanted for the past few years but it is hard work. We put in a lot of hours, mainly on the bike, but there is also a lot of gym and conditioning work to make sure the power to weight ratio of our bodies is at its best.

“Diet is also important and I have to watch what I eat. When it comes to the Tour next weekend, I’ll start each stage with a big breakfast and then keep snacking during the race, taking on plenty of sugar to keep my energy levels up.”

Gabz flew back into the UK from France last week to hear he had been selected for the Team GB squad. He got the news via twitter when he switched on his phone at Manchester Airport.

It came after a gruelling few months when he had been training and racing in Australia, Belgium and France.

He wold love to return to France in the years to come - bidding to win a stage of the Tour de France.

“Cycling is what I want to do," he says.

“I rode against some big names in Australia earlier this year but the likes of Bradley Wiggins and Kittel who are here for the Tour take it to a new level.

“My mentor is Yorkshire rider Chris Walker, of Sheffield, who has taught me so much. He’s a man who’s a really great rider and one full of Yorkshire grit”

To find out when the Tour de Yorkshire will pass close to you check our guide here.

To see where the spectator hubs are with big screens, entertainment and refreshments follow this link

And here's the route that passes through our area - stage three - in pictures