Smart show

ROB SMART cruised to victory as he took to the Jersey countryside in his preparations for the Commonwealth Games. With no winter series locally this year, Smart competed in the third round of the Caesarean Cycing Club's own one as his first build-up race before the Games in Australia.

He went into the race with plenty of training miles in his legs and used the event to gauge how his form was progressing.

'Racing is the best form of training,' he said, and this was the first of many off-island excursions over the next three months before heading off to Melbourne.

The course at St Ouen's Mill was a good test for all the riders with a mixture of technical riding and climbs to keep the competitors on their toes.

Smart lined up for the mass-start event on what was a bitterly cold morning with a heavy ground frost covering the course.

The start was a hectic affair with Smart among the leaders as they left the start field.

Jersey's Island Games rider Kieron Mills initially led the pack until the first climb where, on the steepest section, Mills had to dismount and run.

The Guernseyman, though, stayed on the bike and cruised past to lead the pack.

Smart was joined by 2003 Island Games competitor Robin Ovenden on the second lap and the pair built up a good lead over Mills and Jersey's Commonwealth Games road rider Sam Firby.

The pair were still together at the halfway point, but Smart was clearly stronger on the long climb and opened up a gap on Ovenden of 15 seconds with five laps to go.

From that point on Smart was on his own as he extended his lead on each lap to cross the finish line over a minute up on his rival.

He was more than satisfied with his morning's work and the way his form is shaping up before the Games.

'With over two months' preparation and racing still to come I'm confident that come March I will be in the form of my life.'