There was high drama in Perth on Sunday as some of the UK’s finest youth and women cyclists took to the city centre streets.
Scottish Cycling brought its brand new Youth Tour of Scotland and more established Women’s Grand Prix to Perthshire at the weekend and the two events served up some fantastic competition.
Sunday’s cycling saw the girls, boys and then the women test themselves against a near hour-long city centre criterium on the streets of Perth.
The first rain for several days led to slippery conditions for the competitors and the impact of that was most dramatically felt in the women’s event.
They ended the hopes of Ciara Horne (Breast Cancer Care) who hit a barrier with three laps to go and came off, suffering a suspected broken humerus and ending her hopes of victory, having been fourth and just 10 seconds behind prior to the crash.
Hannah Barnes (MG Maxifuel) eventually took victory in City of Perth Grand Prix, but was beaten into second place overall by Anna Ewing (Breast Cancer Care).
Her second place on stage was enough to secure overall victory in the event, which is part of the British Cycling Women’s National Road Race Series.
On Saturday, the cyclists enjoyed very different conditions as the first stage played out in bright sunshine and surprisingly pleasant temperatures in and around the picturesque village of Forteviot.
Both youth and women cyclists pitted themselves against a five-mile rolling circuit, with the youngsters completing more than 50km and the older one more than 50 miles before crossing the finishing line.
They then moved-on to the grounds of Strathallan School for a short-duration evening time-trial.
Though the women have now moved on, the Youth Tour of Scotland continues with a fourth and final stage, which will see the young cyclists racing around a two-mile course within the grounds of Strathallan School.For a full photo gallery, click here.