The start of the men's race (00972629)

SURREY’S Gary Dodd won the elite cylists’ Rubis Jersey Town Criterium on Sunday, but not before there had been a series of quite spectacular falls along the course.

‘It was like riding over glass at the Pomme d’Or corner,’ explained Jersey cyclist Simon Stead afterwards, ‘while the bend around Cyril Le Marquand House was nearly as bad. The support from the crowd though, and the course, were great.’

After a phenomenal ride by Claire Galloway, who lapped every other lady rider to win the women’s race, the conditions became increasingly dangerous as the weather – a continuing, drizzling rain – took its toll.

With the English riders dominating both elite races there was some consolation for Jersey in the shape of petite Jersey cyclist Kim Ashton, from the Caesarean Cycling Club, who finished third behind Galloway and Leona Anderson.

Jersey’s Richard Tanguy (23) came fourth in the men’s race and Chris Spence was sixth.