This Is Guernsey

Nick Mann, far right, bides his time on his way to an excellent win in the Delancey criterium. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0573513)

IN A season which so far had been dominated by junior riders, veteran Nick Mann upstaged them all with a brilliant tactical display at the Delancey Park track.

With some of the top riders missing from action and a slightly damp course, the early exchanges of the 30-minute-plus-five-laps criterium event were cautious as everyone settled into the race.

The pace soon picked up, with Matt Osborn and Josh Gosselin the main riders launching attacks off the front of the main group, which was soon down to just 11 of the 17 who had started.

The short, tight lap around the Delancey circuit took less than a minute to complete and added to the fast, frantic, action which is ideal for spectators, with riders often having to ride along the grass to take evasive action.

As the pace picked up during the middle section, it was clear that many of the main group were struggling to stay with it and with each attack gaps began to form.

Entering the final five laps, the group was down to nine riders.

Rob Smart tried his luck from four laps out but he was reeled in by the bunch who seemed determined to keep the group close.

With two laps to go, Gosselin also tried an attack, but was bought back on the final lap, many of the riders thought the race would now be down to a sprint finish and briefly let up as they caught Gosselin.

As the riders caught the escapee, Mann launched his own counter-attack, with a perfectly timed move allowing him to establish a substantial lead over the group who had been caught napping by the break.

Rounding the final corner and crossing the finishline, Mann celebrated having won the race by a comfortable distance, showing that tactics play a huge part in the short crit races.

As the main group crossed the line, it was Gary Robert who had worked his way up through the pack on the final few laps to take second place from Smart, Leon Ogier, Gosselin, Osborn, Ben Walden, Josh Owen and Philip Touzeau.

All the other finishers were a further lap or more back on the main field.

Earlier, the under-16s had taken part in their own crit race.

With favourites Alex Falla and Alex Wilson renewing their rivalry from last season – which saw Wilson beat Falla in a sprint finish at the final race of the season – neither rider wanted to push the pace and a game of cat and mouse ensued.

While those two riders toyed with each other, Juliette Setters broke away and established a substantial gap over the pairing of Wilson and Falla.

The much younger Michael Mann and Will Falla had also been able to stay with the pace, keeping a watchful eye on the goings-on.

As the final five laps approached, for the riders Setters was slowly brought back to the group but she continued to work on the front, pushing the pace along dragging the reduced group of Wilson, Falla and Mann along.

On the penultimate lap, Alex Falla made his move, sprinting round the outside of the group, and opening up a lead over the other riders. Wilson and Mann tried to follow, but the gap was too large and Falla rode away on the final lap to take victory with Wilson second.

A very impressive ride from Mann, who stuck with the more senior riders for the whole race and came in third. Setters took fourth despite all her breakaway heroics, with Will Falla fifth.