WORCESTER St John's Cycling Club's Simon Wilson showed that his winter preparations were paying dividends with a convincing win in the Evesham Vale Road Race.

On a cold morning with snow forecast, Wilson was one of the six riders who broke clear of the field at the halfway distance in the 50-mile race. The six opened up a one-minute lead and managed to work well together to hold off the chasing field.

On the long straight to the finish line, Wilson managed to hold off his five rivals in a sprint, to relegate Eddie Corbet (Wolverhampton Wheelers) and Cheltenham's Ian Alexander to second and third places.

Meanwhile, Gavin Poupart, who is now riding for Pershore's Echelon Cycles, has won all three of the early season time trials that he has entered.

In the Severn Road Club 25-mile event near Bristol, Poupart trounced the field with a time of 57minutes 57seconds. That was two-and-a-half minutes clear of second-placed Rob Pears of Bath Cycling Club.

In the Bath CC 25-mile hilly time trial, it was Pears who once again played second fiddle to Poupart. Taking the course in his stride, Poupart clocked a time of 59-05, while Pears was round in 1-0-49.

Another hilly event, the Chippenham Wheelers 24-mile time trial, saw Poupart again win with a comfortable margin. He raced in with 56-50 on the challenging circuit.

Dave Kiddell (Cavalier CC) could manage only 58-21 in response to take second place.