Pinder powers to a win

CYCLING: WITH the autumn upon us, cyclists from across our region are preparing for the hill-climb season, and many took part in the early-season ABC Centreville hill-climb at Blackstone Edge.
The two-mile climb has proved to be a test for cyclists from across the North of England for many years, and the latest event was no exception.

Despite the course being slightly shortened by 30 metres because of a lorry parked just near the start, the event still went off successfully, with Blackburn and District CTC rider Adam Pinder winning with ease in 7min 45.4sec, while his team-mate Carl Helliwell took second, a huge 41.3 seconds slower.

The promoting club’s Lewis Szymanski was third, another 30 seconds off the pace, while the best-placed Oldham Century Road Club rider was Ian Kennedy in ninth spot, having powered up the hill in 9min 34.7sec.

Chadderton professional cycling ace Chris Newton finished the Tour of Britain in 44th place after battling through the eight stages.

Newton was 36th in a circular stage five which started and finished in Stoke. His team-mate at Rapha Condor, Darren Lapthorne, was third on both the Wooton and Gun Hill climbs, and also in the sprint at Leek, to boost his tally in those competitions.

Newton again finished safely in the bunch in the sixth and seventh stages, while on stage eight from Hatherleigh to Yeovil it was the turn of another Rapha rider, Dan Craven, to feature in the climbs with Kristian House winning the climb at Chard and finishing second on Trow Hill.

In the final stage, a circuit race around central London, Newton was 57th, to secure 44th spot overall from a starting line-up of 102 riders.

MARK Cavendish has been forced to withdraw from the Great Britain team for this week's UCI Road World Championships road race.

The 24–year–old from the Isle of Man has been in scintillating form, but after clinching his 23rd victory of the season earlier this month in America, he was forced to withdraw from the Tour of Missouri with a respiratory infection.