Giles Drake takes solo win in Yorkshire

Proving that his win in the Holme Valley Wheelers' two-day earlier this month was no fluke, Giles Drake (Herbalife-Leisure Lakes) raced to a convincing solo victory in The Pete's Race in Yorkshire on Sunday.

The 29-year-old from the Wirral made a successful trip over the Pennines into Yorkshire for the 90-mile race around Pontefract in West Yorkshire, and with Liverpool's David McGowan (Metaltek) taking second spot the local riders were left to fight over the minor placings.

Drake attacked mid-race and built a good lead. But a chase group launched off the front of the bunch at the bell, and he only just held on to take the win.

"I was swinging at the end!" he said afterwards. "Having done 50 miles on my own I was finished, but I managed to hold on for the win.

"It's nice to get a win. I won the Holme Valley Wheelers stage race a couple of weeks ago, but I was second on both stages, so it's good to get a chance to cross the line with my arms in the air!"

Elsewhere, Team Raleigh's Graham Briggs won the Experian Cycle Live Criterium in Nottingham on Friday evening, edging ahead of Node 4 rival Roman Van Uden in the sprint finish, while another Node 4 rider, Dan Barry, completed the podium in third.

Dillon Byrne (Champion System) took victory in the tenth round of the CDNW League in Cumbria, crossing the line just one second clear of his nearest rivals at the end of the tough race on a circuit near Lazonby.

Byrne's team-mate at Champion System took third by a similar margin in a close four-rider sprint finish.

In South Yorkshire, Ashley Proctor (Bike Box Alan) won the Danum Trophy Road Race, sprinting to victory ahead of three rivals in a close finish to the race around Sprotborough.

Proctor had proved active throughout and was one of the early escapees which helped form a four-rider leading break. Langsett Cycles' James Baillie took second and Gareth McGuinness (Energy Cycles) third.

Ben Sumner (Beeline Cycles) won the Virgin Active Road Race around Cranfield in Bedfordshire on Saturday.

He was one of six riders he attacked on lap six of the 22-lap race, and that formed the backbone of an eventual 20-rider group which left the rest behind.

Eventually away with Ken Buckley (AW Cycles), Sumner attacked on the hill to avoid a sprint finish, and took the win, while Buckley held on for second and another Beeline Bicycles rider, Jozef Metalka, was third.