Smart back on top of the podium

ROB SMART was back to winning ways in the second race of the Ian Brown and Arrowsmith Marlowe Cross Country Mountain Bike Series held at Chouet.

The technical course that features large rock sections is a favourite among spectators who generally congregate around the rocky areas.

The race began with its usual frantic start with the elite riders being set off 30 seconds ahead of the chasing riders to allow the field to spread out before the technical sections of the course.

Smart set about establishing a lead and was being closely chased by Stuart Le Tissier, Jon Osborn and others.

Smart's advantage over the chasing pack was extending lap by lap and when second placed Le Tissier crashed and retired from the race, it was clear only a mechanical failure would stop the Island Games rider's bid for victory.

Osborn had also established himself in second ahead of Ogier, who had battled to escape from Gary Robert, Jamie Burtenshaw and Andy Gibson.