Raleigh take the honours in Tour Series opener in Kirkcaldy

Raleigh celebrate team win, Tour Series 2013, Kirkcaldy round 1

Strength in numbers was the key as Raleigh took the honours in the opening round of the 2013 Pearl Izumi Tour Series in Kirkcaldy tonight.

Yanto Barker (UK Youth) sprinted to the individual victory for the first time in a Tour Series round from a three-man group that formed halfway through the race, but with Tom Scully finishing second, and Richard Lang and Alex Blain leading home the peloton in fifth and sixth, Raleigh were the best team on a sunny but chilly night in the Scottish seaside town.

This was only their second win in the history of the series, following on from their first in Peterborough last May.

Barker was also the first winner of the Costa Express Fastest Lap competition, while third-placed finisher Mike Northey (Node4-Giordana) took the first IG Sprints Competition jersey of this year's series.

It was not such a good night for Ian Bibby (Madison-Genesis), who crashed out early on and was taken to hospital.

Highlights of the opening round can be seen on ITV4 tomorrow night (Wednesday) at 10pm, and the series continues in Durham on Thursday night.

Results

Pearl Izumi Tour Series 2013 round one: Kirkcaldy

1. Raleigh 10pts

2. UK Youth 9pts

3. Rapha-Condor-JLT 8pts

4. Node4-Giordana 7pts

5. Madison Genesis 6pts

6. Metaltek-Knights of Old 5pts

7. MG-Maxifuel 4pts

8. IG-Sigma Sport 3pts

9. Hope Factory Racing 2pts

10. Spin Rotor-Primal-COriginals 1pt

Individual result

1. Yanto Barker (UK Youth)

2. Tom Scully (Raleigh)

3. Mike Northey (Node4-Giordana)

4. Felix English (Rapha-Condor-JLT)

5. Richard Lang (Raleigh)

6. Alexandre Blain (Raleigh)

7. Dean Downing (Madison Genesis)

8. Chris Opie (UK Youth)

9. James McCallum (Rapha-Condor-JLT)

10. Alex Peters (Madison Genesis)

IG Sprint Competition

1. Mike Northey (Node4-Giordana)

Costa Express Fastest Lap Competition

1. Yanto Barker (UK Youth)

Start line

Felix English heads the break

Yanto Barker takes the victory in Kirkcaldy

Raleigh celebrate team win

Rainbow over the podium

Raleigh's Rich Lang waits to go on the podium

Related links

Tour Series round one photo gallery by Andy Jones

Pearl Izumi Tour Series 2013: Cycling Weekly's coverage index

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Nick Bull is an NCTJ qualified journalist who has written for a range of titles, as well as being a freelance writer at Beat Media Group, which provides reports for the PA Media wire which is circulated to the likes of the BBC and Eurosport. His work at Cycling Weekly predominantly dealt with professional cycling, and he now holds a role as PR & Digital Manager at SweetSpot Group, which organises the Tour of Britain.