OTLEY'S Tom Pidcock, in only his fifth cyclo-cross race, has picked up a medal in the National Championships in Abergavenny.
The Chevin Cycles.com Trek rider finished second in the under-16 boys' race in south-east Wales.
Winner Dan Tullet (Specialized Racing) finished 1min 27sec ahead of Pidcock after some solo front-running, making up for a mishap two years ago, but an exciting race was unfolding behind him.
Pidcock, 15, was in second, with Harry Yates (Hargroves Cycles-Ridley RT) on his wheel, and Harry Hardcastle (Kirklees Cycling Academy), Tom Mein (Derwentside CC) and Cameron Orr (Sherwood Pines Cycles SRAM RT) chasing hard in pursuit.
Tulett increased his lead every lap and was soon uncatchable, even allowing for problems, but Pidcock seized his chance on the penultimate lap and attacked to be alone in second place.
Yates got the better of Hardcastle and Orr to finish third 21 seconds behind Pidcock, with Hardcastle three seconds behind and Orr ten.
John Wood (Ilkley Cycling Club) was 47th in the veteran men's 40-49 years' race but 24th in the men's 45-49 year's sub-section.
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