NEW MILL racer Gabriel Cullaigh is one race away from a second national title after two tough outings in Blackpool and Scarborough.
In the first meeting at Blackpool, Cullaigh found it difficult to launch attacks and get away from the field, especially as he was wearing his National Youth champion jersey for the first time, which made him an easy target for the peloton to close down.
“Every time I went for a break the peloton came with me and eventually a few riders went by me to get away with just six laps to go,” said Cullaigh.
“ I decided to sit in for a while and wait my chance, but it was too late by the time a couple of us eventually got away, and the breakaway riders finished way ahead of us”.
It was a lesson well worth learning, but Cullaigh still picked up National Series points for finishing seventh.
At Scarborough it was a different story, particularly as there was a long hill with a testing incline.
Cullaigh rode intelligently and stayed just a few riders off the front until the last lap, when he launched a telling attack to chase down his Talent Team colleague James Shaw (Heanor Clarion Bikes).
However, Shaw was too far ahead and won by a gap of 20 seconds, while Cullaigh powered down the finishing straight to claim second place from Ben Chapman (Corley Cycles).
Shepley rider Leon Gledhill continued his improvement in form and finished 10th, having picked up a few points in the first prime sprint after 10 laps.
With just one race to go Cullaigh is seven points clear in the Youth National Circuit Series, with 25 points available to the winner, and an additional five points available in each of two prime sprint laps.
