Mann makes most of rival's braking fault

NICK MANN claimed his first victory of the Velo Club's 2006 season with a strong ride in a time trial over two laps of the demanding Vazon circuit. Very wet conditions made an already technical 11-mile lap extremely treacherous.

Mann rode a superb race, catching all of those who had started at minute intervals ahead of him.

He later said he was struggling on the climb away from L'Eree towards the start/finish line at La Hougette School. However, consistency throughout the rest of the course proved the key as Mann took the victory by 28 seconds.

Runner-up Tony Bleasdale was hampered with a potentially disastrous mechanical problem from early into the first lap.

A cable snapped leaving him without brakes for the duration of the race.

This cost him valuable time, especially considering the slippery and technical nature of the course.

Dave Bourgaize announced his return to the competitive side of the sport with an impressive third place following a five-year absence from competition.

The battle for fourth was decided by a single second between the young but talented Nathan Baudains and veteran Graham Le Maitre, the former getting the better on the day, both finishing a handful of seconds ahead of Gallienne.

Other notable performances came from Allan Renyard, Tim Holmes and Jon Osborne, who all posted a quick time considering the hazardous conditions.

A little further back, a battle between James McLaughlin and James Cameron was decided by just five seconds, with Stuart Le Tissier and Gary Robert a little further back.

Calum Hill-Smith, 13, was the sole competitor in the 10-mile support event taking place over just under a lap of the same course tackled by the senior riders.

Hill-Smith rode well, completing the distance in a shade over 31 minutes.