Massive result for Harry Birchill

Harry Birchill enjoyed one of the biggest results of his road racing career when he finished in the same time as winner Arnaud De Lie in a reduced sprint for the prestigious Polynormande one-day race in northern France.

Former Mid-Devon CC starlet Birchill (Saint Piran), 22, from Newton Abbot, was 18th in a 23-man sprint at the end of 168K, but he was up against several WorldTour teams and the performance rates better than many higher finishes he's had in other races.

Belgian De Lie (LottyDestny) is a world-class sprinter, and Birchill had many big names behind him.

It also bodes well for his form ahead of an expected place in Saint Piran's team for the forthcoming Tour of Britain, which starts in Manchester on September 3.

Torquay's Harrison Wood (Cofidis) received the all-clear to resume racing this week after scans revealed no structural shoulder damage from a crash in the recent Tour of Poland.

Cofidis have decided not to aim Wood, 23, at 2023's final 'Grand Tour', Spain's Vuelta, at the end of this month, preferring to bookend his first WorldTour season with a series of still important races in Europe and China's Tour of Guanxi.

"I felt I had the level for the Vuelta," said Wood, "but I understand the decision.

"It will be good to finish my first pro season with something left in the tank, and I hope I can play my own role a bit over the next couple of months."

The MDCC boast the SW 50-mile champion after Teignmouth's Don Brooks took that title in impressive style on the A377 at Lapford.

Brooks was a minute and a half quicker than his nearest rival in one hour 54mins 16secs (ave 26mph) in the North Devon Wheelers promotion.

Triathlon champion Brooks had also finished third in the SW 25m Champs, promoted by the MDCC on the A38 between Dean Prior and Chudleigh Bridge.

Thirty intrepid cyclists set out on the Dartmoor Ghost from Bovey Tracey at the beginning of July.

The ride took in many of the haunted parts of the moors, including HoundTor, Okehampton Castle and Lydford.

They were given a spooky send off from Hind Street by a young Ukranian girl, Zlata who was dressed a ghost to add to the atmosphere.

A full golden moon rose steadily as the riders climbed past the Haytor rocks. At Whiddon Down the service station provided a good coffee stop to prepare them for the ride through the night, on through Okehampton to Lydford, around Brentor, Tavistock and along the recently re-opened Drakes Trail to Yelverton, where Cycling UK helpers served up some veg chilli and other refreshments.

The return home was back over the moors as dawn was breaking, through Princetown, and Moretonhampstead, and over Docombe to the finish at Café 360 in Bovey Tracey.