MATT Nowell is scheduled to start his second year as a professional when the domestic race season starts this weekend.

The Northwich rider is a part of an eight-strong provisional entry from Canyon Eisberg for the fourth edition of the Chorley Grand Prix on Sunday.

He was 16th overall at the same event in 2017.

Nowell, a former student at Sir John Deane’s College around the corner from his family home, was retained by the British UCI Continental outfit after an encouraging debut campaign.

The 21-year-old raced 10 times at UCI level after making his debut in a gruelling Rutland-Melton International CiCLE Classic, and celebrated his best result at the first edition of the Midden Brabant-Poort Omloop.

His winter preparations complete, the ex-Weaver Valley Cycling Club man will join a strong field for five laps of a hilly 23.2-mile course.