Future cycling star blasts to victory on Devon course

Remember the name of Jack Baldie – he could be one of British cycling’s best young prospects over the next few years.

Baldie, from Wiltshire, was 17 only last week, but he took the opportunity to ride on the fast A38 course between Dean Prior and Ashburton and won the Royal Navy & Royal Marines CA 10-mile Time Trial in impressive style.

He beat most of the South-West’s strongest trialists and set a new personal best time of 19 mins 2 secs, an average speed of 31.5mph.

On a night when seven men went under 20 minutes, there was little disgrace in defeat for several local challengers.

Second was Mid-Devon CC’s Espoir (U23) rider Piers Mahn, in a PB 19.22, with Paignton’s veteran champion Conrad Moss (Nopinz) third in 19.24.

MDCC’s Don Brooks was fifth (19.39) and James Pearcy seventh (19.43).

The fastest Lady was Natalie Grainger (Podium Addict) in 23.5, ahead of MDCC’s Maria Weymouth 24.21.

Other local times included Kevin Weymouth 21.16, Clive Vallance 21.28 and Peter Loader 28.55.

Torbay’s WorldTour pro Harrison Wood (Cofidis), who is on a mid-season break during the Tour de France, has returned to his second home in Aix-en-Provence to resume training after a short holiday in Torquay.

Former MDCC starlet Ewan Warren’s hopes of winning the Eire Under-23 Road Race Championships were dashed when he was ill during the event.

But after celebrating his 21st birthday soon afterwards, he has returned to his Spanish club Brocar-Ale to resume a season which has produced a series of increasingly good results.