'This is going to be tough'

Photo: Darren Robinson

RISING STAR . . . Matt Walls has been selected for the Great Britain senior academy.

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

COLLECTING medals and setting records have become commonplace for ace track cyclist Matt Walls.

The 18-year-old has enjoyed a glorious summer both at home and abroad.

Success at the Junior European Track Championships was quickly followed by more notable achievements at the Junior Worlds.

REPUTATION

Former Crompton House pupil Walls has seen his reputation grow and has been tipped to carry on Great Britain's rich tradition on two wheels.

And because of his burgeoning talent on two wheels, he has been chosen to attend GB's senior academy as one of seven riders on the endurance programme.

It comprises of living and training in Manchester until the end of February ­- he starts this week ­- before moving to Italy for a seven-month spell which coincides with the road race season.

"This is going to be tough for Matt," said dad, Larry. "He will be competing against 23-year-olds.

"It will be brilliant racing, though, and a great experience.

"We're all delighted for him."

At the Euros in Montechiara, Italy, teenager Walls won two races on his way to clinching the madison title.

He completed a golden double by claiming team pursuit gold for Great Britain, breaking the national record in the process.

The Worlds took place at Aigle in Switzerland, where again Walls and GB shined brightly.

Walls picked up silver in the points race, before taking bronze in the team pursuit. They defeated the host nation in the ride-off in four minutes, three seconds, having been thwarted by Denmark in the semi-finals.

GB's team pursuit class of 2016 was following in the tyre marks of Simon Yates, Owain Doull, Sam Harrison and Dan McLay, who clocked four minutes, eight seconds in the same event six years ago.

Those four have gone on to compete at the very highest level.

Yates won gold in the points race at the 2013 Track World Championships, was third in the Tour of Britain in the same year and has rode in the Tour de France.

PURSUIT

Welshman Doull won team pursuit gold at the Rio Olympics and has recently signed for Team Sky.

Harrison won silver and bronze in team pursuit at the 2011 and 2013 Track World Championships.

McLay turned professional in 2015, rode in this year's Tour de France and this month was runner-up on stage four of the Tour of Britain.

At home, Walls carried all before him in the Junior National Championships.

He won gold in the points and scratch races and grabbed silver in the madison. He was sixth in the individual team pursuit.