Ten in sprint finish

TONY BLEASDALE experienced his first local road race victory in the opening event of the Guernsey Velo Club's Easter four-day stage race. Held over four laps of the reservoir course in foggy but calm conditions, Bleasdale wasted no time in making the best of the fog, attacking early and disappearing into the gloom.

Although the pack chased down this early attack Bleasdale's move set the script for the rest of what was a fast-paced race.

Rob Smart used the hills to try and soften up his fellow competitors and as early as lap two he tried to break clear on the long run up past Mont Varouf School.

Young talent Tobyn Horton was in impressive form, managing to get clear with Paul Brehaut as they passed the Last Post, but Brehaut was unwilling to work with Horton and the break came to nothing.

Stuart Le Tissier teamed up with Horton for one final effort on the last lap, but with the end so close, it was snuffed out within half-a- mile.

No less than 10 riders contested the last lap sprint and as soon as the leaders rounded the final corner, Horton seized his moment and attacked the bunch.

Brehaut and Bleasdale were the only riders capable of sustaining such a fierce pace, leaving the rest in their wake.

Horton and Brehaut clashed as they fought for victory, but Bleasdale, managing to stay clear of trouble, took the victory by half-a-bike's length.