Sunderland impresses over opening stages

YOUNG Jack Sunderland produced a faultless performance to post the fastest time of the day in the prologue which got the Guernsey Velo Club's Mountain Bike Tour of Guernsey under way. Sunderland beat visiting Jersey rider James Patterson by just six seconds, with the two being the only riders under the nine-minute barrier.

The event, run over one lap of the Grantez course, was all about speed and effort, with riders having to dig deep mentally and physically.

The victory gave Sunderland the lead in the sport category from Dan Owen with Ben Walden in third.

Patterson's performance gave him the leader's jersey in the senior section from Lars Persson, but as he is not due to complete the entire series, the title will go elsewhere.

Veterans were in short supply, but double tour champion Shaun Mosley still had his work cut out to beat Andy Wilson for the overall veteran's lead.

Mosley, who nearly missed his start, was hardly able to stand after his Herculean effort. Matt Osborne took the under-16 spoils from Josh Owen.

One of the most fiercely contested categories will be the under-14s, with the fast-improving Nathan Baudains taking the early initiative from James Mapley.

Chris Le Page won yesterday's second stage, a big cross-country event at the same venue.

Le Page took the lead on lap one and was never troubled as he extended his lead to two minutes by the finish.

Second-placed Patterson would have kept the leader's jersey had he not only been visiting for the weekend. That honour goes to Persson.

Sunderland enjoyed another great day.

He started one minute behind the seniors but stormed through to catch all except Le Page.

As a result, he keeps the overall lead in the category, with Dan Owen second.

Osborne kept his 100% record up with victory in the under-16s but Ryan Langois took over second place from Josh Owen.

Top veteran Mosley had his work cut out, with Wilson taking an early lead before being passed by the former.

Baudains claimed the under-14 spoils from James Mapley.

Meanwhile, 10 of the island's top riders were in action at Wendover, near Watford, in the latest round of the Southern Cross-Country Championships.

In the youth section John Mapley was second and Mike Serafin 10th after mechanical problems.

In the juniors, James Roe was runner-up and Andy Colver fourth.

Nick Mann placed 10th in the the masters' section, while in the elite race Stuart Le Tissier was 15th and Jon Osborne one place back.

Pete Miller and Dan Thwaite did not finish and nor did Rob Smart who suffered from the misfortune of two punctures.