BREADSTONE cyclists Etienne and Pfeiffer Georgi competed for Giant CC Halo Films in the three-day Isle of Man Youth and Junior Tour.

The brother and sister from The Castle School in Thornbury put in impressive displays despite the conditions.

The first stage kicked off with a sunny evening 1.29km prologue time trial on Douglas promenade.

Etienne gained 11th place in the junior category while Pfeiffer took third spot in the U16s girls.

For the second day the weather changed to cold, driving rain and high winds, causing a number of the junior riders to be treated for hypothermia at the conclusion of their hilly 102.7km road race, based around Peel.

Etienne formed part of a late breakaway group but then, succumbing to the cold conditions, lost contact with the break, though still finishing two minutes ahead of the main peloton in eighth place.

The youth races that afternoon were curtailed due to the juniors’ experience in the morning, with Pfeiffer taking third place in the U16 girls’ hilly road race.

The wet and windy conditions continued into the final day for the juniors’ 92.6km road race, with Etienne gaining sixth place in a move which saw him clear of the main peloton and just behind the winning five-man breakaway group to consolidated his overall eighth place.

“The Isle Of Man stage race went well for me,” said Etienne.

“The first road stage was freezing but I managed to bridge across to the race-winning breakaway group to get eighth place," said Etienne, "and I also got a high placing, sixth, on the second road stage.

“My final position has kept me in the overall lead of the National Junior Series, which I’m happy about.”

The sun shone for the afternoon’s youth circuit races along Ramsey promenade, with the U16s competing over 33.6km.

Pfeiffer went clear with four laps to go but the bunch pulled her back with one and a half laps to go and she achieved fifth place in the sprint, giving her an overall position of third.

With her team-mates, Pfeiffer was delighted to win the overall team prize.

Subsequent weekends saw Pfeiffer compete in the final two rounds of the Southern region Omnium competition where she was second overall in Reading and won at Bournemouth.

Her high placings have qualified her to compete at the National competition later in the year.

“I was pleased with the overall result in the Isle of Man stage race,” said Pfeiffer.

“I would have liked the second stage to include the planned five ascents of the steep hill on the circuit, but I understand that the organisers had to cut that stage short because of the severe weather conditions.

“I’m now looking forward to the remainder of the National Youth Series races and to the final of the track Omnium competition.”