House and Bialoblocki headline at Roy Thame and Jock Wadley

HOUSE AND BIALOBLOCKI HEADLINE AT ROY THAME AND JOCK WADLEY

A host of top British names are competing at the Roy Thame Cup and Jock Wadley Memorial this weekend.

British champion Kristian House is the top draw at the Essex double-header, bringing the likes of Darren Lapthorne, Tom Southam and new signing Zak Dempster with him.

Wilier-Big Maggy's should offer the most resistance, their six-strong roster including Marcin Bialoblocki, Will Bjergfelt and Ben Luckwell.

Orbea-For Goodness Shakes will also be looking to ride strongly in their backyard.

Justin Hoy (Felt Racing) is the defending champion at the Roy Thame Cup, while James Millard (CyclePremier.com) is bidding for a second successive win in Sunday's Jock Wadley Memorial.

FIRST SEASON WIN FOR RALEIGH

Daniel Shand claimed Raleigh's first ever win at the weekend, taking honours at the Ribble Vallety CRC round of the Maxgear.co.uk Road Race League.

In addition to the win, Raleigh also placed four of its riders in the top ten with a dominating performance.

"The Eddy Soens was a bit of a cock-up so we had to win at the weekend," explained team manager, Chris Truett.

"We went full bore from the gun with five guys, with three making the gap across. We had two lads in every group on the road and Shand went with about two laps to go and stayed away.

"It's a good result, they performed really well as a team and that's just as important as the result really. It's really good for the morale".

The team has three stage races in April; the Tour Doon Hame, the Cinturon Tour in Majorca and the Vuelta a Mexico. "April's a busy month," said Truett, "and the guys have been getting in back-to-back long hours in preparation".

RAPHA RACE IN TAIWAN

Following a strong performance in the OCBC Cycle criterium in Singapore last weekend, Rapha Condor Sharp are staying in Asia. The team is racing in the seven-day Tour of Taiwan, which begins on Sunday.

The roster consists of Graham Briggs, Matt Cronshaw, Dean Downing, Ben Greenwood and Dean Windsor.

Forming part of a busy schedule, those racing at the Roy Thame Cup will be competing in the Tour of Normandie (March 22-28)

ISLE OF MAN PUSH FOR BIKE LICENCING

Cyclists over 16 should have their bicycles licenced according to Castletown Commissioners on the Isle of Man.

The local authority is considering a letter from the islands Department of Transport on a number of new draft cycling regulations according to Isle of Man Today.

The new proposals include making it compulsory for brakes to be in good working order, to have safe tyres and a bell.

"They should make it statutory to wear safety helmets, fluorescent jackets, have lights front and back and have a road licence for riders over 16 years of age," said Commissioner Kevin Weir.

"They [cyclists] ride four in a row, they will not drop behind, a motorist gets annoyed and overtakes in a bad spot, they have an accident and the cyclists race on," he added without any apparent supporting evidence.

"Any professional driver would support this sort of action. I have a bike and at least I have road sense. I do not ride two, three or four abreast," said Weir.

BLYTHE SPRINTS TO EIGHTH IN WANZELE

Omega Pharma Lotto neo-pro Adam Blythe sprinted to eighth in Wednesday's pro kermesse in Wanzele.

"It was good - not too shabby considering I had bad legs," said Blythe. "A group of four got away, then two clipped off at the end. We caught one of them, and another guy passed me in the sprint."

Landbouwkrediet pro Frédéric Amorison took victory from the breakaway.

There were other Brits racing too: Mark McNally (AN Post-Sean Kelly) finished 27th, while 2006 national champion Hamish Haynes (Vlaams-Brabantse Afdeling) was 50th.

SIMON HOLT IN AT THE DEEP END IN ITALY

Britain's Simon Holt who recently joined the UC Bergamasca amateur team in Italy will ride the Trofeo Franco Balestra on Sunday, a 170km UC1 1.2-ranked challenge.

Holt finished 10th in his first race in Italy this season, which finished in a bunch sprint.

UK-based team, Frezza Pasta Montegrappa, is also set to ride.

DALLAGLIO COMPLETES CYCLING SLAM

Lawrence Dallaglio today completed his 2800-kilometre Dallaglio Cycle Slam in his attempt to raise £1 million for Sport Relief.

The former England rugby player rode through each of the Six Nations countries, taking in each of the rugby stadia en route.

Dallaglio arrived at Murrayfield at midday today, one month after leaving the Stade Flaminio in Rome.

"It is fantastic to have reached the finish line," Dallaglio said earlier in Murrayfield.

"The Slam has been an epic journey and we are all elated to have reached the last stadium. We have had fantastic support along the way with some great people joining us including the likes of Andrew Flintoff, Michael Vaughan and Will Greenwood.

"Everybody who has taken part deserves a beer tonight to celebrate, the cyclists have given so much effort and the support team has been brilliant every step of the way - I certainly couldn't have done this alone.

"We're just short of our final target of £1m and need your help. We have done our bit, so I urge the public to do theirs' and donate and help us reach the £1m for two deserving charities, Sport Relief and the Dallaglio Foundation".

Donations can be made via http://www.dallagliocycleslam.com

Dallaglio (right) poses with Andrew Flintoff