The Sleepwell Hotels-sponsored Isle of Man Youth Tour takes on a fresh look this weekend with a return of cycle racing to the Billown Course for Sunday afternoon’s finale.

The anti-clockwise version of the Southern 100 course was last used in 2003 for the final edition of Manx International Cycling Week, when the handicap-based Curwen’s race was one of the highlights of the week - as it had been for several decades.

This weekend’s feature race will form a round of the prestigious British Junior Road Race Championship, and will be a tester for next year when the 4.25-mile course is likely to be used for the 2019 edition of the Manx International Three-Day.

The Isle of Man Youth Tour is also held over three days, beginning as usual with prologues (individual time trials) this Friday evening on Loch Promenade, Douglas, starting from 5.30.

The closed roads action will then begin in earnest the following morning with a junior road race over an extended Jurby South course, also taking in a recently-resurfaced stretch from Ballaugh old church to the Dollagh and Ballacrye. The junior race will be over 10 laps (appx 60 miles), beginning at 8.45am.

Youth races will take place over a short 2.7km loop taking in Ballaugh Cronk and the link road (lane) connecting Ballamoar straight and Killane. The first youth race will be at 1.15pm and the last at 5.45pm.

The latter classes will then race over the deman manding Ellerslie course on Sunday morning, with the youngest (D and E) classes doing a short 1km hill climb at Ellerslie from 8.45am, followed by five age group races of varying lengths over the full 7.2km course also involving Garth and Braaid.

The junior road race will round off the proceedings at Billown in the afternoon. Roads will be closed for the latter from 1.45 until 5.30pm at the latest.

Castletown Commissioners have been very supportive and the race will start in Castletown square at 2.15 and be neutralised up through Farrants Way to the course at the S100 headquarters. It will then cover 14 laps of the course anti-clockwise, a total distance of 95.2km (almost 60 miles).

The weekend culminates with a celebration dinner and prize presentation for all riders and their supporting families at the Villa Marina on Sunday evening.

The event is part of British Cycling’s Youth Circuit Series and, as mentioned above, the Junior Road Race Championship, attracting up-and-coming young cyclists between the ages of five and 18 from across the UK and Europe.

This year sees an excellent entry of approximately 350 riders over the 11 categorie, including a traditionally strong Dutch contingent.

The leading local riders in the junior road race include Commonwealth champion Thomas Bostock and his fellow Equiom IoM Junior Cycling Team members Harry Cain, Ben Christian, Adam Kelly, Adam Scarffe, Daniel Sowerby. Tosh Teare and Max Walker.

Sleepwell Hotels has supported the event for more than 10 years, providing financial backing, logistical support, subsidised accommodation for officials, riders and families, and catering for around 600 guests at the presentation evening.

l Full round-up next week.