National 25-mile time trial champion Joe Perrett (Team IG-Sigma Sport) added the best win of his road race career as he sprinted to victory in the final round of the Premier Calendar series, the 93-mile Ryedale Grand Prix, in North Yorkshire.
At the head of the action all race, the Ilford 22-year-old edged out Ian Bibby (Madison Genesis) and Richard Handley (Rapha Condor JLT) after the three had escaped from a nine-man leading group with seven kilometres to go.
Perrett, Simon Yates (100%ME) and Mark Christian (Team Raleigh) had started the action on the first of three large laps around the picturesque Ryedale countryside, extending their advantage to over four minutes on the second lap before a six-strong chasing group set off in pursuit third time up the main climb.
The six - Rapha Condor JLT trio Handley, Mike Cuming and Hugh Carthy, Madison Genesis pair Bibby and Jack Pullar, and Rob Partridge (Team UK Youth) - eventually joined up with the three leaders on the third of five laps of the shorter finishing circuit and stayed together until the final lap when Perrett, Bibby and Handley caught the rest on the hop and flew off the front.
Sprinting from 400 metres out, the three leaders lined out across the road on the uphill drag to the line where Perrett proved strongest to claim his first Premier Calendar victory.
With none of the riders in the break a threat to his position, Evan Oliphant (Team Raleigh) was confirmed as overall Premier Calendar series champion as he crossed the line in 12th place.
"It's a massive win for me, I'm over the moon," said Perrett. "To win a Premier Calendar in such company is fantastic, but the biggest thing is to have got a win for the team - we've been chasing this all season."
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Hannah Barnes (MG-Maxifuel Pro Cycling) returned to North Yorkshire one week after claiming ther national circuit race title in York to win the penultimate round of the National Women's Road Race Series at the head of an 11-strong break.
The Towcester 20-year-old powered clear in the uphill finish to cross the line three seconds clear of Emma Grant (Matrix Fitness Racing Academy) with series leader Anne Ewing (Breast Cancer Care CT) taking third place and guaranteeing overall victory in the series with one event to go,
The race incorporated the National Junior Championship, and the winning break included three Scott Contessa Epic juniors who fought out their own private battle with 17-year-old Anna Christian, from the Isle of Man, taking the title ahead of Bethany Hayward and Amy Gornall.
Anna Christian took the junior women's national title
Sarah Byrne, Helen Wyman and Hannah Barnes
Hannah Barnes wins
Hannah Barnes tops another podium in 2013
Raleigh on the front
Jack Pullar on front of break
Sprint finish
Joe Perrett takes the win
Ryedale podium with overall Premier Calendar winner Evan Oliphant with trophy
Related links
Ryedale Grand Prix 2013 photo gallery
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