A TALENTED cyclist is blazing a trail in the Tour de France, and top coaches believe he is a future champion.

Adam Yates has not only impressed fans by dominating the youth category during the first half of the prestigious contest, but the Bury-born 23-year-old has also held his own in the all-age competition.

There are 21 stages of the Tour, which ends in Paris on July 24, and after 10 stages Adam was in first place in the under-25s classification – entitling him to wear the white jersey – and second in the general classification behind fellow Briton Chris Froome, who last year won the Tour for the second time.

Earlier this week, top cycling coach Sir Dave Brailsford tipped Adam as a future Tour victor.

At a press conference, he said: “It’s obvious that Adam is a terrific talent and that he is a potential general classification contender, if not already (one).”

Adam became interested in cycling with his twin brother Simon when their father John took them to watch races and ride at the Manchester Velodrome.

John was also a member of Bury Clarion cycling group, and Adam and Simon started to race as they began their studies at the Derby High School in Bury.

Bury Clarion’s secretary Peter Roscoe said: “The twins learned their magic riding at the Velodrome.

“During their years racing at the Velodrome, they would be racing with the likes of (Olympic gold medallist cyclist) Geraint Thomas.

“In 2011, when Adam was aged 18, he won our Tens Championship, taking on three 10-mile time trials, and he was the fastest Bury Clarion rider.

“I like to think that, at the end of their careers, the twins will look back to the start and think about racing up Lumb Carr Road, Ramsbottom, in our annual hill climbs.”

Simon was able to compete in continental cycling contests as he was chosen for the British Cycling Elite Academy.

However, Adam gained the opportunity after being financed in 2014 by the Dave Rayner Fund, which was set up to help young cyclists in memory of a rider who died in 1994 after being assaulted outside a Yorkshire nightclub.

“When Simon joined him Adam on the Continent Adam knew all the ropes and reportedly said that he would lack after him,” said Mr Roscoe.