LUDLOW road racing cyclist Ollie Hayward maintained the Rhino Velo Race Team’s race for the title in the West Midlands Road League with victory in the Mike Jones Trophy Road Race.

The 21-year-old rider attacked six kilometres from the end of the 100km home event for his Shrewsbury-based team, powering away from the peloton alongside 3C Payment Sports’ Steven Fidler.

Hayward managed to hold off his rival to take the honours after an exciting sprint finish and despite being restricted to only two gears after a mechanical problem during the race.

George Moore, of the West Midlands team standings leader RST/Cycle Division Racing Team led the pack across the line in third.

Victory secured Hayward 100 points and he now sits ninth in the West Midlands League standings as well as leading the under-23 riders, ahead of Cameron Biddle.

Ludlow Brewery Race Team’s Jacob Sparrow finished ninth in the Mike Jones Trophy and is now fourth in the standings just a point behind Daniel Brough, who himself is just a point adrift of Moore with Rhino Velo road captain Chris Pook leading the way.

There are three events still to be staged, starting with Solihull CC’s Inkberrow race on Sunday [July 8].

Hayward and Pook will again be in action on Sunday, after the club’s success over the seven laps of the near-nine mile circuit near Shrewsbury, which took the riders from Minsterley Parish Hall over a rolling road circuit between Stiperstones and Long Mountain.

“Ollie is having a very good season within a very good team,” said Rhino Velo directeur sportif Ben Lawrence. “We’ve shared the wins around the league quite well. We’re very pleased with the season, we are dominating both the West Midlands League and the South Shropshire Road Race League.”

And road captain Pook echoed the sentiment regarding his team’s Ludlow ace.

“There was a great finish,” he said. “Ollie attacked with six kilometres to go with Steve and managed to open up 40 seconds on the peloton by the finish line.

“It was an excellent performance by Ollie, attacking at the perfect time while having to cope with the handicap of having only two gears - his rear derailleur cable having snapped part way through.”

Mike Jones Trophy Road Race top 20: 1 Oliver Hayward, Rhino Velo Race Team; 2 Steven Fidler, 3C Payment sports; 3 George Moore, RST/Cycle Division Racing Team; 4 Eliot Ward, Crimson Performance Race Team; 5 Tom Bracegirdle, 3C Payment sports; 6 Jamieson Blain, Zappi Racing Team; 7 Farley Barber, Pro Vision Race Team; 8 Hefin Evans, Bynea CC; 9 Jacob Sparrow, Ludlow Brewery Race Team; 10 Chris Pook, Rhino Velo Race Team; 11 Nick Morris, Clee Cycles; 12 Josh Williams, Clee Cycles; 13 Jimmy Smith, Chester RC; 14 Sam Beeston, Pro Vision Race Team; 15 David Scott, 3C Payment sports; 16 Kieran Frend, RST/Cycle Division Racing Team; 17 Robert Seeley, Team PB Performance; 18 Cameron Biddle, Halesowen A&CC; 19 Jonathan Bourne, Pro Vision Race Team; 20 Rob Childs, Stourbridge Velo.