Le Tissier makes a splash in Bath

JUST three days after being crowned Guernsey Velo Club criterium champion, Stuart Le Tissier continued his rich vein of form by taking the bronze medal in the South Division Closed Road Circuit Race Championships held on Colerne Airfield near Bath. The circuit based around the airfield was pan flat and 2.6 miles long, culminating in a race distance of 26 miles for the 10 laps.

KPMG-funded Le Tissier, along with fellow Sarnian Rob Smart, lined up among the 50 starters to clip into their pedals for the first lap.

Attacks were regular from the off but were soon snuffed out by the peleton, who were reluctant to let any breaks develop. Nevertheless, riders were still firing off the front of the pack on each lap in a bid for freedom.

After six laps, one such break was allowed a gap and the three escapees gained 30 seconds on the bunch, who were content to let them go.

With two to go, the breakaway was reduced to only two riders because the pace was too hot for one to handle.

In the bunch, Le Tissier and Smart were happy that the break would be brought back before the finish. Despite the size of the peleton, the gap was not coming down and still stood at 30 seconds with one lap to go.

Attacks came from the bunch as expected on the last circuit, with Smart and Le Tissier among them. The former sensed his opportunity when the pace dropped on the back straight and launched one final attack - Le Tissier read the move and jumped across the gap to Smart with one mile to go.

The move was well timed because the bunch did not react, leaving the pair 15 seconds clear and closing on the leaders.

Working together, the Sarnians were reeling in the leaders, but as the pair swung out for the last corner, it was clear the gap

was just too much to close.

Smart hit the front on the headwind drag to the finish, towing his teammate to it.

The Commonwealth Games star pushed to the limit until he could do no more and his legs gave way with 200m to go, leaving Le Tissier to sprint the final stretch.

He scorched it to take a well-deserved bronze and just hold off the peleton by two seconds.

The exhausted Smart was swallowed up by the peleton and came home at the back of the bunch 10 seconds down on Le Tissier.

The following day, the duo tackled the 54-mile North Devon Road Race and the course could not have been more different from the previous one.

The riders were either ascending the many climbs on the circuit or descending the other side of the hills on what could only be described as a very lumpy course.

The race began with a 1km neutralised section. When the flag was dropped, attacks began thick and fast. Two riders soon jumped off the front and built up a 1min. 30sec. lead after the initial 18-mile lap.

On the second circuit, the peleton split into pieces on one of the many climbs.

Both Sarnians read the move and made the front group of 10 riders. The group started to work together in an attempt to reel in the breakaways, who now had a three-minute lead.

With one lap to go, tactics came into play as several riders stopped working and saved themselves for the uphill finish, thus disrupting the chase. Smart launched one final move on the penultimate climb but was given no freedom by his rivals, who jumped straight onto his wheel.

On the final descent, speeds reached 48mph, but, despite that, it was clear the bunch were competing for third spot because the two early breakaways were never caught.

The incline to the finish strung out the riders as they sprinted for the line. In a very tight finish, Le Tissier took fifth and Smart ninth.