That man Paul Curran again

THAT man Paul Curran followed up his win in the Clayton Velo Spring Classic when he took the Universal Cycle Centre road race over a new course based on Maltby, near Rotherham, on Sunday.

Curran attacked with two laps to go on a 3.3-mile circuit straddling the Yorkshire-Nottinghamshire border between Firbeck and Oldcotes, leaving his Optimum Performance team-mate Wayne Randle to outsprint breakaway rivals Neil Martin (Dinnington RC) and David Baker (Team GT) for second place.

Olympic mountain biker Baker illustrated his talent on the road when he got into a five-man break which formed after only three laps. Curran, Randle and Martin were there along with Mark Tumbull (VC La Motta).

They increased their lead steadily, and when Turnbull blew on the climb up to the finish with two laps left it was the signal for Curran to make his winning move.

The double Commonwealth Games champion quickly jumped clear, leaving Randle to keep an eye on Martin and Baker, and opened up a 90-second lead by the finish.

Randle, meanwhile, jumped his two companions with 200 metres left to take the uphill sprint for second place.

As the field behind split, Steve Cocker (Sheffield City RC) came in alone to take fifth place ahead of Kevin Eckersall (Cottingham Coureurs), and Martin Pitchford (Brough Wheelers) claimed seventh place after an impressive chase which had seen him come through from the rear of the main group.

RESULTS

1. Paul Curran (Optimum Performance RT) 60m in 2-29-30
2. W. Randle (Optimum Pertormance RT) at 1-30
3. N. Martin (Dinnington RC)
4. D. Baker (Team GT) both st
5. S. Cocker (Sheffield City RC) at 3-15
6. K. Eckersall (Cottingham Coureurs)
7. M. Pitchtord (Brough Wh)
8. M. Wadsworth (Dinnington RC)
9. E. Aunger (Dinnington RC)
10. J. Graham (VC Astar) all st.