Carling still best overall

JIMMY CARLING demonstrated that he has lost none of his all-round ability as he came out on top of the Mountain Bike Tour of Guernsey. The 20-year-old, who won two medals at the Shetland Island Games at criterium and cross-country, concentrates mainly on downhill these days, but proved his overall prowess by taking the expert title in the Savills Private Finance-sponsored event.

As in that class, the other categories were won by riders who had headed them going into the weekend's three stages.

The racing was fast and furious at the Pleinmont motocross circuit for the fifth race on Friday.

Based on a simple knockout system, category riders were split into groups and raced against one another in a one-lap sprint.

The under-16s was a close run series with James Mapley emerging as eventual victor ahead of a late-charging category leader, Adam Sunderland.

Alex Falla once again dominated the under-14s and maintained his 100% success rate.

The sport race was more tactical with eventual winner Jason Le Page shadowing motocross rider Sam Clark for the majority of the lap, waiting until the last possible minute before utilising a powerful sprint to power past him.

The tandem pairing of Ben Burtenshaw and Pierre Lowe once again provided the spectators with a unique display of their own, managing to get round the course in an impressively short amount of time ahead of several other riders.

Lars Persson once again emerged as category winner ahead of Andy Wilson to continue as leader of the veterans.

The large expert field was split into several, smaller, closely fought races, with single-speed rider Craig Addlesee among them.

Island Games gold medallist Tobyn Horton showed why he had powered to his medal with an impressive display of sprint riding to take the win ahead of category leader Carling.

Addlesee held his own to take an impressive third place on the night ahead of a recovering Gary Robert.

On Saturday the penultimate event of the week's racing was a one-lap time trial of the following day's cross-country course at Les Norgiots.

Given short notice due to land access problems, organisers managed to lay out a course that included both a fast and a technical descent, short, power-sapping climbs and several draining flat-out field sections.

Showing that he hasn't lost too much of his past form, Carling tore round it in a time of 3min. 51sec., a second ahead of Jersey rider Adam Wojkiewicz, to secure his lead in the expert category.

In the under-16s and under-14s, it was business as usual for the respective leaders, Sunderland and Falla, who both placed first.

Persson posted a time that was sixth fastest on the night to once again lead the veterans home.

The sport category was a repeat of the previous night's result with Le Page narrowly beating Clark.

Sunday morning and, despite predicted thunderstorms, dry and warm conditions greeted the riders for the seventh and final stage and they were faced with either 40 or 60 minutes of racing plus a lap.

Starting the day with the shorter event, the sport, single speed, under-16 and under-14 riders set off into the morning sun.

Rounding off an impressive week's riding, Addlesee led from the off to take the chequered flag ahead of under-16s Sunderland and Jersey's Robert Coutanche.

Fourth place went to the talented Falla who powered past sport rider Clark with three laps remaining.

With all four category leaders coming home inside the top five, their final positions as tour winners were confirmed.

In the expert category, Rob Smart took the win some two minutes ahead of Wojkiewicz and a chasing Carling.

Third place was more than enough to ensure that Carling remained at the top of the expert leader board at the end of the day.

Recovering well from a poor start, Mark Batiste rode well to take fourth place ahead of the only other rider not to be lapped, Matt Osborn.

One lap down and having had a puncture, Persson recovered well to take the veteran category win ahead of Pierre Paul and Dave Pinchemain.

In addition to the sponsors, the organisers would like to thank all those who took part, the landowners and the marshals who helped make this event possible.

* For more cycling events, visit www.guernseyvelo.org.gg for information on and assistance in taking part or spectating.