Liam Holohan takes 2nd in Salford Nocturne View Article Gallery Photo . Liam Holohan on the Salford Nocturne Podium. Big time bike racing came to Manchester’s Salford Quays on Saturday night. With the Quays playing host to the Elite Salford Nocturne Criterium. Before the main event got under way , an enormous crowd had gathered in the start and finish area,to welcome the Great Britain Gold Medal winners Paul Manning, Ed Clancy, Geraint Thomas and triple Gold winner Chris Hoy. The race around the floodlit Quays area, was projected up on a giant screen , giving the crowd an almost unbroken view of the riders as they raced around this very difficult circuit. The event had attracted a top class field including Olympic and world Champions. With £1,000 first prize on offer. Spectators in their thousands were treated to a tremendous race as the bunch came thundering over the cobbles and through the finish at over 35 mph on the very first lap. The Young Pearl Izumi riders were kept busy during the first half of the race, trying to take control and chaseing back any splits in the race. With half the race covered Ian Wilkinson (Science in Sport) put in a strong attack and gained a few seconds, a lap later Simon Richardson (Plowman Craven) got across and the pair held a 10 sec lead. Pearl Izumi’s Liam Holohan spotted the danger and simply flew out of the bunch with an amazing turn of speed, Urged on by the crowd , Liam bridged the gap to the two leaders. Rob Hales (Halfords) along with the Gold Medal pairing of Geraint Thomas (Barloworld) and Ed Clancy (Landouwkredit), put in some big efforts to bring the leading trio back, but their efforts were in vain with the Pearl Izumi team now involved with every move. With 10 laps remaining, Pearl Izumi’s George Atkins who celebrated his 17th birthday only last week, made a tremendous effort to cross to the leaders. This audacious move from the youngster lasted for over 2 laps and took the last sting out of the chasers trying to bring him back. Coming through the finish with 2 laps to go Liam went for the win, he gained a few seconds but was chased down by Ian Wilkinson with Richardson trying to stay in contact. At the bell Wilkinson had a small gap that he held to the finish with Liam outsprinting Richardson for 2nd place. The chasers were led in 1min. 2 sec behind, by Rob Hales (Halfords) with the Pearl Izumi/PlanetX team after a tremendous team performance, placing George Atkins 7th , Andy Tinsley 8th, Stephen Adams 15th and matt Jones 17th all same time. RESULT 1. Ian Wilkinson Science in Sport. Liam Holohan Pearl Izumi/PlanetX/High5 @ 6 secs 3. Simon Richardson Plowman Craven st 4. Rob Hayles Halfords@ 1.02 5. Ian Bibby Science in Sport st 6. Matt Brammeier Profel-Prorace st 7. George Atkins Pearl Izumi/Planetx/High5 st 8. Andrew Tinsley Pearl Izumi/PlanetX/High5 st 9. Simon Gaywood Plowman Craven st 10. Tom Barras Plowman Craven st 11. Grant Bayton Sports Bean st 12. Matt Stephens SigmaSport st 13. Matthew Rowe Rapha/Condor/Re-cycling st 14. Wouter Sybrandy SigmaSport st 15. Stephen Adams Pearl Izumi/Planetx/High5 st 16. Ed Clancy Landbouwkrediet st 17. Matthew Jones Pearl Izumi/Planetx/High5 st 18. Dave Collins Science in Sport st 19. Rhys Lloyd Rapha/Condor/Re-cycling @ 1.07 20. Tom Southam Halfords @ 1.13. To round of a good weekend for the Pearl Izumi/PlanetX/High5 Team. Jeroen Janssen also finished on the podium, after taking a fine 3rd place in the 80 klm Rond Van Schigndel criterium in Holland. Jeroen Janssen Takes 3rd Place in Ronde Van Schigndel Criterium View Article Gallery Photo Jeroen Janssen on the podium. During a short break back home in Holland, Jerone has had considerable success in Elite criterium's. Jeroen will be back in the UK this week to join up with his Pearl Izumi team mates to ride the London GP at the weekend.