Horton makes a promising start

Monday 29th March 2010, 2:29PM BST.

Tobyn Horton

LOCAL rider Tobyn Horton has made an impressive start to his professional career.

The 23-year-old (pictured) became the first Channel Islander to sign professional terms when he joined new outfit Team Sprocket ProCycling who are managed by Wales-based Swede Magnus Backstedt, a stage winner in the 1998 Tour de France.

Horton is based with the team in Belgium, where he has spent the last five seasons competing and he had good results in the first two big races of the year.

Aided by his team mates, the sprint specialist finished just outside the top 10 in Omloop Van Het Waasland event near Antwerp.

Next up was last week’s European semi classic single-day race, the Nokere Koerse.

Team Sprocket ProCycling put in a solid performance with Horton finishing first out of the outfit when he crossed the line in the main bunch.