Max Walker produced an impressive performance for Great Britain at the UCI World Road Race Championships in Yorkshire on Thursday.

The 18-year-old was competing in the junior men’s road race which took place over 148.1 kilometres between Richmond and Harrogate.

In the wet conditions, the Manx teenager formed part of an early five-man breakaway that opened up an advantage of one and a half minutes over the peloton.

This gap was reduced on the first major climb of the race as the USA team drove the pace of the chasers.

As the pace increased, so did the risks on the gritty Yorkshire roads as several riders hit the greasy Tarmac during a series of crashes which spread the chasing riders dramatically.

Walker’s group was caught but shortly later the Manx rider went off the front on his own and built up a 28-second lead with 74km to go in the Skipton area, with the race commentators praising the Douglas rider and mentioning the likes of Peter Kennaugh, Mark Cavendish and even Dot Tilbury when talking about the emergence of even more talent from the island.

Max’s advantage - which briefly went up to 40s - was reduced on the second climb of the day, at which point the chasing group caught him with 68km to go at Blubberhouses.

With his duties done for the team, Walker eased off late on and regrouped with the peloton and eventually crossed the line in a fine 30th place out of 72 finishers.

Fellow Manxie Amelia Sharpe will also be in action at the world championships when she teams up with Backstedt, Eluned King, Anna Shackley and Abi Smith for the junior women’s road race over 91.5km from Doncaster to Harrogate today (Friday).

The talented 18-year-old finished 26th in Monday’s junior women’s time trial.

Onchan resident Ben Swift is riding the men’s 285km road race on Sunday.

More in Tuesday’s

Isle of Man Examiner