HAYLES AND DOWNING TAKE CIRCUIT WINS

ROB Hayles (Team KLR) won the Hillingdon Grand Prix on Saturday and Russell Downing (Healthnet-Maxxis) took victory in the Brentwood Town Centre Criterium on Sunday as the National Elite Circuit Series progressed at the weekend.

After breaks had come and gone throughout Saturday?s 50-mile epic at Hillingdon, it all came down to a bunch sprint with Hayles pipping junior Adam Blythe (Science in Sport) to the line, Tony Gibb (Plowman Craven RT) completing the podium for the second round of the series.

Twenty four hours later the third round took place, and it was Downing who took the win after a three-rider break which stayed 23 seconds clear for the final 20 minutes of the 70-minute race.

Downing had gone clear with Warrick Spence (Cyclefit) and Gordon McCauley (Plowman Craven RT), and opened up a good lead on the bunch.

Youngster Holt launched himself off the front of the bunch in what looked like a futile bid to join the leaders, but he closed them down steadily, joining them with 10 minutes remaining before pipping McCauley to third spot in the sprint for the line.

For more on both circuit series events - and a preview of the National Criterium Championship at Otley next week - check out this week?s Cycling Weekly.

Hillingdon Grand Prix.-

1 Rob Hayles (Team KLR-Parker International)

2 Adam Blythe (Science in Sport-Trek)

3 Tony Gibb (Plowman Craven RT) all same time

Brentwood Town Centre Races.-

1 Russell Downing (Healthnet-Maxxis) 30 miles in 1-10-03

2 Warrick Spence (Cyclefit)

3 Simon Holt (Recycling.co.uk) all st