LINDLEY’S Tom Murray earned the praises of his in-form Pinarello teammate Russell Downing after the Rotherham rider clinched victory in the Chas Messenger two-day event in Buckinghamshire.
Downing won both road races and was third in the opening 5k time trial to clinch victory, while Murray’s efforts earned him second place in the event’s Corley Cycles sprints competition.
Downing now holds a clear lead in the British Cycling Premier series ahead of the tough Lincoln GP on Sunday and after his latest win said: “It was an unbelievable team effort.
“We had Freddie (Johansson) in the early move policing things which was great and then we brought the break back with two laps to go.
“The boys sat on the front for the last lap to hold things together and I was able to sneak in for the win. It was fast all the way in to the finish with the Rapha team attacking.
“I was behind Malcolm Elliott as the sprint started but he had mechanical trouble and I lost my lead-out man and I had to use everyone else.”
Star Wheelers Mark Thaxter and Mark Dennis got their road season under way in the Aughton Road Race, a 40-mile race for third and fourth category riders promoted by Lune RCC.
Thaxter punctured after 10 miles of the hilly course near Lancaster while Dennis stuck with the bunch throughout the race which was controlled by riders from the promoting club, finishing just outside the top ten after getting boxed in during the sprint, won by Jason Adams riding for Team Probikekit.com
