Tough event is mastered by Arblaster

Dan Arblaster continues to improve and tasted success over 30 miles on Sunday. (Picture by Daniel Guerin, 0554112)

DAN ARBLASTER was victorious in poor conditions around the Guernsey Velo Club’s 30-mile road race.

Hail and rain before the start of the event meant that the racing would be tough and it was clear from the outset that the pace was going to be fast, with Arblaster, fresh back from a national road event, attacking almost immediately off the start line.

That set the trend, with few riders from the 23-strong field being able to keep up. Within the first few miles, a leading group of seven had developed.

Slightly further back, Leon Ogier, Tim Holmes and Philip Touzeau were working hard and eventually established contact with the lead group.

During the early attack, the back of the field had splintered and small groups were forming, hoping to gain a slight advantage by riding together in the poor conditions.

At the front, Arblaster and Matt Osborn seemed relentless in their attacks, slowly dropping Ogier, Holmes and, slightly later on, Touzeau.

Nearing the end of the first lap it was clear many riders had had enough of the cold and wet conditions and decided to end their race, with seven pulling out.

The front group had now broken into just five riders with Arblaster, Osborn, Josh Gosselin, James McLaughlin and Tony Bleasdale leading from a chasing group of Holmes, Touzeau and Jon Osborn.

Another pack comprising Josh Owen, Steve Pipet, Tim Martin, Matt Le Huray and Ben Walden was further back.

The final sprint up L’Eree hill to the finish line was, as usual, a frantic affair, with the leading group being spread out.

Arblaster showed his speed up the climb to take victory from McLaughlin.

Gosselin came through late and overtook Bleasdale on the line with Matt Osborn fifth.

Holmes outsprinted Touzeau to take sixth, with Jon Osborn in eighth, while Owen came over the line in ninth closely followed by Pipet, Martin, Le Huray and Walden.

Richard Setters, who had the unfortunate job of riding most of the race solo as all his fellow riders pulled out at various points, was in 14th, with his younger brother, Phil, just beating first female Tracey Dowinton to the line.