FALMOUTH cyclist Jake Alderman missed out on winning the inaugural Dales-Velotive Road Race in Leedstown after suffering a blow-out on Sunday afternoon, writes Sam Moore.

The 20-year-old looked strong as he broke away from the drop of the flag, putting considerable distance between him and the main group of riders.

By the end of the first two laps of the ten mile circuit Alderman had achieved an impressive gap of one minute and ten seconds from the chasing peloton, but this came to a sad end when a front puncture put an end to his race.

Despite his misfortune, Alderman tried to remain upbeat when reflecting on the race.

Alderman said: “My legs were feeling good, I didn’t fully commit because I was hoping that a couple of guys would come across [to help me] with about 40 miles to go and if we could get something working we might have stayed away.

“But with the puncture, that was it, race over, but that’s bike racing.”

The race was eventually won by Welshman Andrew Williams from the Cwncarn Paragon team with the 24-year-old rider securing victory from a three-man splinter group, beating Dexter Hurlock, Easton-RITT, and Tanks Direct Cycling’s Kelvin Price.

It was Williams’ first ever race in Cornwall but he felt that the long journey was worth it.

“I was shocked really,” he said.

“I seemed to go well in wet conditions and it was completely mucky out there.

“The course was great, quite undulating with a few climbs in there and I would come down again.”

The 60-strong starting line-up consisted of fourth, third, and second category riders from across the South West.

They were met with persistent drizzle and wet roads for the first in a series of three races sponsored by the Newquay-based businesses Dales motors and Velotive bike shop.

The ten mile circuit circumnavigated Leedstown and Praze-an-Beeble, the same route used for the Leedstown time trials.

“What this race is about is trying to bring [road] racing to Cornwall,” said Simon Peters, Director at Dales Motors.

“We’ve lost the use of the closed circuit at Perranporth [airfield], which has been a huge blow.

“Road racing in Cornwall has always been difficult because nobody ever really wants to step up to the mark and put it on.”

Co-owner of Velotive Jenny Craven, 29, agreed. “This is the perfect platform to allow both visitors to enjoy racing in the beauty of our county and to also show off some of our amazing athletes,” he said.

“The full field today shows just how much we can grow this for the future.”

The next race in the Dales-Velotive road race series will take place on Sunday 28 June.