Matt Tibbutt in the Elite race.
CYCLING SOME of the Island’s top cyclists braved the bitter cold for some early season racing at Castle Combe.
Five members of the Wightlink-LCM Systems Cycle Race Team took part in a range of races.
Jack Elton-Walters and Kev Foster lined up in the morning’s fourth category race.
A lot faster and far more popular than this time last year, the race was rapid from the start, and ended outside the top in a large group sprinting to the finish.
Lining up for the IW in the combined elite, first and second category race, were Matt Tibbutt, James Ebdon and Sam Baker.
The stiff wind and some in-form elite riders soon tore the field apart and left it in four splintered groups. James put in a huge team effort and bridged himself and Matt across to a faster group, where Matt stayed for the remainder of the race. With his domestique role complete, James sat in a slower group and saw out the race.
Working hard Matt held his nerve until the sprint and finished 15th in a highly competitive field — a solid return to form after two weeks out due to illness.