STUART Bowers (Hargroves/Scott UK) secured his fourth consecutive South of England Cyclo-Cross Championship victory with a three-minute advantage over the second-placed rider at Lydiard Park, Swindon at the weekend.

Bowers, who started favourite for the event, again looked in a class of his own, but this time achieved the win with the assistance of some helpers in the pits.

Unlike mountain biking, cyclo-cross competitors can change their bikes midway through a race and with the experienced Pete Hargroves, Rob Gray and Geoff Shergold working in the pits, Bowers was able to pull off a unique race strategy.

Bowers, from Charlton Marshall, said: “I had a bike with faster tubs on for the open field section, and then had a bike with mud tubs waiting for me at the pits just before the woods. It worked perfectly, probably saving me a minute or so during the race.”

With a steady start to the event, Bowers broke free from the leading contenders on the second lap to quickly establish a 20-second lead.

During the third lap, Bowers had to contend with a dog-walker out walking his dogs down the middle of the course! But, with that drama behind him, Bowers simply rode away from the field. Second place went to the under-23 winner on the day, team-mate Matt MacDonald who beat the vastly experienced Adrian Lansley (pedalon.co.uk) to the silver medal place.

Bowers’s next objective is the British Cycling National Trophy series, starting this weekend.

“Of course I was happy to win this week, but really this coming weekend at Rutland is a bigger test,” added Bowers.