The 2017 Sleepwell Hotels-sponsored Isle of Man Youth and Junior Tour has attracted record entries this weekend.

Organised in partnership with IoM Cycling, it is a qualifying event for British Cycling’s 2017 National Youth Circuit and Junior Road Race Series.

There are 367 entrants, 30 up on last year, with competitors from throughout the British Isles and the near Continent.

On the home front there will be a full contingent of locals, including the Equiom Junior Road Race team of six and Conor Davies who is returning for the weekend from Belgium.

Current World Junior Cyclocross Champion and Junior Paris-Roubaix winner Thomas Pidcock is also be among the top riders.

Friday evening has a familiar look to it with prologue time trials on Loch Prom, Douglas. The youngest classes, Youth D and E, will set the ball rolling at 5.30pm over 1.29km. They will be followed by Youth C, Youth A and B girls, Youth B, Youth A and the Juniors.

Saturday morning’s Junior Road Race is over nine laps of a 10.6km course in the Jurby/Ballaugh Cronk area from 9am. This will be followed by a Youth Road Race on the southern segment of the course used a number of years ago in the Ballacoraige/Ballacrye area.

The Youth D/E and C races will be over three and four laps at 1.45pm, followed by Youth A/B girls at 2.30 (12 laps), Youth B (12 laps) and Youth A at 4pm over a distance of 46.4km (16 laps).

Sunday will be based in the Douglas Head/Marine Drive area with a Junior Road Race over 10 laps of a 9.7km course at 9am (taking in Keristal, White Hoe, Nunnery and Head Road).

The Youth Road Races will see a return to the 4km Port Soderick course used in the first year of the Youth Tour about 10 years or more ago. This will include the tough climb up under the steam railway bridge at Ballaveare (Port Soderick station), the descent of Quine’s Hill and back onto the coast at Keristal.

The Youth D/E and C races take place at 1.45pm, followed by Youth A/B girls at 2.30, Youth B at 2.30 and Youth A over 12 laps at 4pm.