Gosselin's shock win

JOSH GOSSELIN gave himself a timely boost of confidence before the Island Games when he won Sunday's inter-insular road race in Jersey. The Sarnian star swapped his mountain bike for a racer to produce the goods to win the 52-mile race around the Watersplash circuit in St Ouen and St Peter by 12sec. from Jersey's main man, Danny Le Marquand.

'I was shocked - I really wasn't expecting it,' said Gosselin, who celebrated his 22nd birthday last week.

'As it's getting close to the Games I did the race as it's good for training but it's the first time that I've won a road race so it was a bit of a surprise.

'Something like that is good for the confidence and it's a bit of a boost before we go off to Rhodes.

'Everything seems to be falling into place.'

The decisive break happened on lap three of the seven-lap race when Le Marquand broke from the main bunch and was shortly joined by Gosselin.

The pair worked hard to stay away from the pack and by lap five their lead extended to 75sec.

The rest of the field then started to close in on the remaining laps but the escapees held them off with Gosselin breaking away from the Jersey rider in the last half mile to win by 12sec.

The rest of the field finished 45sec. back with Guernsey team members Rob Smart and Paul Brehaut in fourth and ninth places respectively.

The other two Sarnian riders, Leon Ogier and Craig Addlesee, found the pace a bit too hot and were dropped early on to finish in 13th and 15th respectively.

'In the beginning I was trying to work for the team,' said Gosselin.

'Then on the third lap Danny Le Marquand made a break and I went with him.

'When I looked back we had quite a lead on the group but neither island chased us down because there was a 50/50 chance of either side winning.

'The finish was along the Five Mile road and about a half a mile to go, I made an early break and got 100m on him and I didn't look back.

'I just dug in and hoped to keep it.'

It was one, two and three for Jersey in the second inter-insular race - the 44-mile women, juniors and veterans event.

Junior Robert Coutanche won overall as he followed over the line by fellow Jersey riders Kevin Pilly and Bill Buist.

The top Sarnian was Dan Arblaster who finished fourth.