Motorpoint’s Jonny McEvoy is relishing the chance to race against some of the world’s best riders next weekend in the Tour of Britain.

The 21 year-old from St Helen’s is in the form of his life going into the Tour – which starts on September 11 in Rochdale.

A first year pro, Jonny has been one of the revelations of British Cycling in 2010, with his performances in the RAS Tour of Ireland, Halfords Tour Series and more recently Elite National Criterium Championship (where he came third), earning him a spot alongside Mark Cavendish in the British squad for the UCI Road World Championships in Australia later this month.

“I can’t wait for the start of the Tour of Britain,” says Jonny. “I’ve done it before as an amateur but never as a pro. It’s the most high-profile race that I will have done but I am definitely up for it.

“Although we will be facing some of the big continental teams, we don’t fear them at all. For the UK teams this is our big race, our opportunity to shine against the best, and we need to make the most of it.”

Adds Jonny: “In races such as the Tour of Britain it’s about taking your opportunities. The races are that well controlled that when someone makes a jump on a stage and forms a break you need to be on it because if you do, you could win it.

“Unlike some of the other UK races, where maybe 10-15 riders start as favourites, in the Tour of Britain everyone is in with a shout. We’ve already shown this season what we’re capable of doing and I don’t think a stage win is beyond any of us in the Motorpoint team.”

Motorpoint took the overall lead at the Women’s Tour Series at Darley Moor race track at Old Tupton, Chesterfield.

A small field of 35 riders lined up to face 55kms of the technically difficult Darley Moor. The pace from the start was fast from the offset but Motorpoint’s Hannah Walker came second overall, narrowly missing a crash at the end of the race team mate Harriet Owen came fourth.

Motorpoint’s Malcolm Elliott has announced this weekend will be his last of the season.

The “Sheffield Express” as Elliott is better known, will begin his final racing weekend on Saturday evening at the Newport Nocturne in the popular Shropshire event.

Elliott who began his career in the eighties, has enjoyed a three decade career including two Commonwealth golds, the Sprinter jersey at the Tour of Spain and winning the amateur Milk Race.

His final race of the season will be on Sunday, at the Warwick Cycle Race, alongside Olympic Gold medallist Ed Clancy.

Josh Edmonson finished third overall in the Junior Tour of Wales. The 17 year-old, who had led the Tour until yesterday, broke away from Matt Hill (Team South West) on the 400m climb of Tumble Summit in the Brecon Beacons to claim victory in the fifth and final stage – and with it the King of the Mountains jersey. World Madison Champion, Dan McLay (Hargroves Cycles) was the overall winner of the 2010 Junior Tour of Wales.

Motorpoint’s Josh Edmonson is hoping to emulate team mate Jonny McEvoy by winning this year’s Junior Tour of Wales. The 17 year-old is currently placed eleventh going into the final two stages of the race through the Brecon Beacons.

The three-day race, traditionally held over the August Bank Holiday, has proved in the past to be a breeding ground for future top professional cyclists with Mark Cavendish and Team Sky’s Edvald Boasson Hagen having ridden it in recent years.