Cycling: Stewart on road to success at the double

Feb 18 2008 by Linda Tully, Liverpool Daily Post

JAMES STEWART, who last year signed for UK professional team KFS Special Vehicles, has won the prestigious Perfs Pedal Road Race in Hampshire.

The 23-year-old from Aughton, near Ormskirk, who started racing with Kirkby Cycling Club and is a former National Junior 25 Mile Champion, used his time trialling skills to perfection. After hearing the final lap bell he smoothly accelerated away with seven miles to go, opening up a 40 second advantage. He held off his rivals as his lead had been cut to just 10 seconds when he crossed the winning line. It is his second road race victory as only 24 hours earlier he had a win in the Upavon Winter Series.

He said: “I hadn’t won a road race until now; this weekend I’ve won two. It’s terrific, I can’t believe it.”

Stewart is on good form for the traditional Merseyside season opener, the 47th Eddie Soens Memorial Cycle Race at Aintree Racecourse on March 1.

After that Stewart heads off to Taiwan for the country’s seven-day tour. Stewart, who was awarded the Merseyside Golden Cycle Award at the age of 17, added: “I expect to be riding all the premier calendar events and the Elite Circuit Series. I think that is where my strength lies, in explosive events.”