Carling beats the road men at their own game

NATIONAL youth mountain bike champion Jimmy Carling emphasised his potential on the tarmac by winning the Guernsey Velo Club's opening road race of the season over five laps of the Vazon circuit. Conditions were good with a strong westerly wind helping the riders on the long climb up L'Eree.

The opening laps were cagey with the few attacks being quickly snuffed out.

But as the pre-race favourites opted to remain inactive, all looked set for a sprint finish.

The pack was woken up by a crash on lap three which took the in-form Stuart Le Tissier out of the main bunch.

The last lap, normally a game of cat and mouse, was whipped along by a hard-charging Tobyn Horton, who looked very strong in what was his first road race.

Carling and Horton continued to work together until the last mile, when the sprinters began to shuffle into place.

But Carling had other ideas and as soon as the riders hit the bottom of L'Eree hill he put in a lightning attack.

The pack tried to respond but it was too late and Carling crossed the finish line at the La Houguette School to claim his maiden road victory, Chris Le Page followed him home in second and Simon Rowe earning his best result yet, placed third.

Category two was won by the improving Bob Green, beating triathlete Jeremy Poole into second spot by three seconds, with John Osborne third.

Category three saw Ben Walden claim his first victory of the season from Lynn Coombs, herself involved in a close finish with road race debutant Jon Dorey.

The under-16 one-lap time trial was won by Peter Lee in 32.56, with Ben Burtenshaw second in 35.40.