TEENAGER Chris Latham is already showing signs of following the same path to cycling stardom as Bolton’s other prodigy Jason Kenny.

The 16-year-old from Breightmet is part of the 30-strong National Olympic Talent Team Programme.

Kenny was also part of the elite group before he shot to fame by winning an Olympic team gold for Great Britain in the sprint and a silver in the individual event at Beijing.

But the Latham’s talent for the sport might never have been spotted had he not got lucky when he was a nine-year-old schoolboy at Blackshaw Primary School.

His mother, Tina, explained: “The kids in the year above him were due to go on a trip to the Velodrome, but a few dropped out so their places were offered to his year group.

“All the children wanted to go, so names were picked out of a hat and Chris’s came out. He had a go at the Velodrome and one of the coaches spotted him and said he was quite a talent.

“Chris has been addicted to the sport ever since.”

Latham has recently returned from the four-day Lotto Ridley Tour stage race in Belgium where he finished fifth, sixth, fifth and first in the separate events to become the overall winner.

The Bolton St Catherine’s Academy pupil was also the overall winner of the three-day Isle of Man Youth Tour after finishing fourth in the opening time trial before a double victory in the race over the hills and the closed-circuit race on the final day.

Latham is currently leading the standings in the National Youth Circuit Series in which there are 10 races throughout the season.

His job was made much more difficult when thieves stole his bikes, worth thousands of pounds, in March. But his training is back on track now that they have been replaced.

Unlike Kenny, Latham’s talents are more suitable for endurance cycling.

“It’s too soon to be thinking about London 2012,” said Tina. “But the Olympics in 2016 in Rio would be a realistic goal.

“But we are keeping his life balanced. He has six training days and gets one day off a week.

“We make sure he maintains a good social life with his friends because it is something we do not want him to miss out on.”

Latham is in action this weekend in the North West Youth Tour starting in Blackpool and progressing to Saltaire, near Leeds, before the final stage at Preston Arena.