Hidrio and Mansell add to their title collections

Lisa Mansell won the women’s final round of the winter Cyclocross series, held at Les Quennevais Picture: DAVID FERGUSON

THIRTY-EIGHT riders descended on Les Quennevais playing fields for the fifth and final round of the Groupe Legendre Cyclocross Series as the Commonwealth Games duo of Rhys Hidrio and Lisa Mansell claimed their respective senior wins

On the sprint side Andy Horsfall and Amber Mauger claimed the honours.

The women’s sprint category saw junior riders Mauger, Libby Hart and Kaitlyn Cadoret race away to gain an early advantage over the field.

True to form, Mauger broke quickly establishing a lead that saw her take first with Hart second and Cadoret third.

Another in-race battle ensued between Louise Banks, Claire Forbes and Louise Bailey.

On the last lap Bailey found her form to ride her fastest lap overtaking both riders to finish fourth ahead of Forbes and Banks in fifth and sixth respectively.

Less than five-tenths of a second split newcomer Hayley Snodgrass from rider Vanessa Averty in an exciting climax to the female race. Averty showed great resilience and determination returning from injury as well as getting to grips with a new bike.

In the male race, Horsfall led the first lap with Nick Thorne and David Bailey in hot pursuit.

The trio all rode a clean race to finish in that order.

Close racing between Tom Nisbet and Will Carnegie came down to the last lap, where an unfortunate dropped chain by Carnegie afforded Nisbet fourth.

The longer senior race saw twenty-three riders line up for an enthralling contest that saw thrills, spills and a few mechanicals.

Sam Nisbet, Liam Cadoret and Jay Cracknell set a fast opening lap with the rest of the field not too far behind.

As Nisbet expertly navigated the thick sandy section and descended through the woodland into a hairpin, dead turn, his back wheel lost traction on the grass resulting in his unseating.

The lead that he had created was negated and he found himself back in the pack again.

James Patterson and Hidrio both showed polished skill on the off-camber sections and superb choice of lines through the sand to work their way through the pack.

Nisbet continued to thrive, displaying smooth transitions when mounting and dismounting his bike on the hurdles section to gain time.

Hidrio meanwhile, continued to increase the lead to take the win, with Nisbit and Patterson behind.

Cracknel’s bike carrying on the sandy sections as well as bunny-hopping the hurdles allowed him to maintain his lead over Charlie Hart to take fourth.

Another in-race battle ensued between Dillon Catney, Adam Wojkiewicz and Liam Cadoret.

Each displayed strengths on various areas on the course with Cadoret giving a master class in attacking the off camber sections on the bank whilst Catney showed smooth cornering skills and Wojjkiewicz showed power on the straights.

In the women’s section, Mansell worked hard on every lap to increase her lead over Harley Cadoret to take the win, with Amanda Wright taking third.

Jersey cycling extended their thanks for the use of Les Quennevais Sports facilities, the course designers, builders, officials and marshals.

The Cyclocross Championship event, also sponsored by Group Legendre, will be held on 22 January, with newcomers always welcome.

– Advertisement –
– Advertisement –