Thwaites out to impress at Tour of Britain

The 23-year-old Burley-in-Wharfedale racer is in the NetApp-Endura team that takes to the line at the start of the eight-day stage race in the Scottish Borders tomorrow.

The two-time Otley Grand Prix winner joined the German continental team at the start of the season in what was his big break in road racing.

He has been flat out since January and although he starts this country’s ever-expanding eight-day race running mainly on adrenalin, Thwaites is determined to make an impression.

“The Tour of Britain has been a focus of mine all season and I’m going to to give it my all because I’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain,” he said.

“I’ve surprised myself how well I’ve raced this year and it gives me more confidence for my second year with the team in 2014.

“It’s been a hard first year, I’ve been racing since January and I’m starting to tire. It’s a massive step up the one from a British team to a continental pro team. It’s a big learning curve and the step up in everything from the standard to the travelling has taken its toll.

“I’ve had to concentrate to make sure I work hard and eat right and I feel as though I’ve definitely stepped it up in terms of being professional.”

Thwaites is in good company in a race that is headlined by 2012 Tour de France winner Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish, who leads the Omega Pharma QuickStep challenge.

Thwaites said: “Every year the field gets better and better with the top guys taking part and especially this year with the big names preparing for the world championships. It’s a really tough race but from my point of view if you can mix it with the best it’s a good shop window to show what you can do.”

Leeds-born Josh Edmondson, 21, rides in support of Wiggins for Team Sky while his elder brother Nathan is a reserve for Node4 Giordana.

Keighley’s Tom Moses, 21, represents Raleigh and Skipton’s Pete Williams, 26, rides for IG SigmaSport. Guiseley-based Rob Partidge, 28, swells the Yorkshire representation by riding for UK Youth.

Rotherham Dean Downing, 38, is back in the race after a five year-abnsence.

The Madison Genesis rider, who is competing in the Tour for the fourth time, said: “It’s nice for me to be back after a five-year absence.

“I’ve still spent a lot of time around the race the last few years working as a pundit and then doing a bit of post-race PR for a team.

“The race is getting as big, if not bigger, than it was in the 1980s and 90s when it was the Milk Race and I was going out and watching it and getting inspired by all these great cyclists.”