Marcin Bialoblocki wins Cycle Wiltshire Grand Prix

Marcin Bialoblocki (Velosure Giordana) took the lead in the British Cycling Elite Road Series when he sprinted to victory at the end of the Cycle Wiltshire Grand Prix on Sunday.

Bialoblocki, 30 and from Somerset, had been part of a hard-riding break a few miles out from the finish of the 101-mile race. But he kept enough back to take a sprint finish, with Dean Downing and Hugh Wilson taking second and third for NFTO Pro Cycling.

“I had good legs today, and the boys have done a great job for me in getting me to the front with a few kilometres to go,” said Bialoblocki afterwards. “They got me to the line and I gave it full gas to the line, and thankfully nobody passed me. It was very close at the end, but first is first!”

The Polish pro had been part of an early break of 19 riders, and when that group was swelled to 29 after being caught by a smaller group of chasers, Bialoblocki was one of five to attack again in the closing stages.

Second in the overall Elite Road Series, Peter Hawkins (Madison Genesis) crashed out of contention on the finishing circuit after a touch of wheels. After their man had been felled, Madison Genesis chased hard and dragged back the escapees with just a few kilometres left.

But Bialoblocki stayed towards the front, and managed to hold on for the win. Previous Series leader Alex Peters (Madison Genesis) finished out of the points and drops to fourth overall.

While NFTO riders finished second and third in Wiltshire, there was a victory for another when James McCallum won the Kilmacolm Kermesse in Scotland on Sunday.

He crossed the line around nine seconds clear of Gary Hand (KTM Road and Trail) and Scott McCrossan (Paisley Velo) at the end of the tough 63-mile race which saw riders tackle a lot of climbs in wet and windy conditions.

Lewis Atkins (Pedal Heaven Colbornes RT) claimed overall victory in the Phil Corley Cycles tour of Milton Keynes three-day road race by the closest of margins, beating Will Goulboure (Team Corley Cycles) on countback after the pair finished equal on time.

Atkins took the yellow jersey by finishing second on each of the first two stages, won respectively by Jacob Tipper (KTM Road & Trail) and Ashley Cox (CC Luton,) before Goulbourne wiped out a six-second deficit as part of the five-man Team Corley Composite squad which won the following team time trial.

With everything to play for on the closing 85-mile leg on the Astwood circuit, fifth place in the uphill bunch sprint was just enough to see Atkins home as Tipper claimed his second individual stage win and Goulbourne missed out on the top three time bonuses in fourth place.

David Shackleton (Wilsons Wheels RT) scored his first win of the season in the elite race at the Teesside Clarion Criteriums, outsprinting his two breakaway companions after an hour of racing on the Middlesbrough Cycle Circuit.

And in the Bury Clarion Circuit Race, Richard Haughton (Team Hoppers Rollers) won the 2/3/4 race, holding off Ryan Whatmough (Team Terminator) and David Kent (St Helens CRC) for victory at the Salt Ayre circuit in Lancaster on Saturday.