ROB HURD has taken the overall leader's yellow jersey in the season-long Sigma Sport/Gizmono competition.

Hurd (Bio-Agrico-Selexion) and the area's other top elite rider, Danny Axford (Artic-Shorter RT), finished eighth and ninth respectively in the Fred Cowley Gizmono GP over 170 kilometres in Cranleigh, Surrey on Sunday.

The breakaway came early and many of the favorites missed the move, Hurd and Axford included.

Hurd chased furiously to get back into the lead, closing within 20 seconds of the break. But the leaders realised the danger and put the hammer down, making it a day of frustration for the Belgian-sponsored Winchester rider.

The midweek Chris Ibbotson Memorial took place in cold and wet conditions but had a field worthy of any major UK road race.

An early breakaway of 14 included Artic RT team leader Axford and international riders such as the in-form Tony Gibb of the DFL Pro Team.

Hurd made contact just as the group split, meaning the Bio Agrico rider had to force his way through the remnants of the break and start chasing again.

In the finale Axford fought hard but came home fifth at one minute and 45 seconds with Hurd chasing home in eighth, at three minutes and 59 seconds.

The area's up-and-coming youngsters climbed to the top step of the podium this week as the South East Division circuit series moved to the Castle Coombe motor racing circuit.

The Isle of Wight has always produced great racing cyclists, Kieran Page being the latest. And Michael Rudland of the SP Systems-Wightlink squad showed he could be ready to follow in their footsteps with a win in the under-16 category. Rudland was followed in by Matthew Davison of the Solent Race Team with Lucy Atkinson of i-team.co.uk rounding out the top three.

i-team's Jon Dibben is a youngster who encompasses the attitude of a new generation of riders who race all year round, has spent the winter months mixing his racing between the Calshot Winter Track League and plugging around the fields in cyclo cross events.

Dibben, from Hamble, has transferred his form well to the road, adding the Castle Coombe under-12's race to his growing list of successes.

Just starting out and already finding considerable success, David Couch from Fordingbridge won the hotly-contested under-eight's race against a formidable contingent from the Maindy Flyers team from Wales. Results:

SUNDAY

South Circuit League - Under-8 3km: 1 David Couch (Bournemouth Arrow CC/Fircroft Hotel), 2 Emily Haycox (Maindy Flyers CRT), 3 Stephen Tomes (Walsall RCC). Under-12 10km: 1 Jonathan Dibben (i-team.co.uk), 2 Hannah Manley (Maindy Flyers CRT), 3 Torsten Junker (LUKracing.net). Under-16 15km: 1 Micheal Rudland (SP Systems - Wightlink RT), 2 Matthew Davison (Solent Race Team), 3 Lucy Atkinson (i-team.co.uk).

Fred Cowley Gizmono GP, 170 km: 1 Tony Gibb (Team DFL) 03:57:38, 2 Duncan Urqhart (Viner Bikes Agisko), 3 Evan Oliphant (Recycling.co.uk) @ 3:06, 4 Martin Ford (Team Rochelle) @ 3:58, 5 Ben Greenwood (Recycling.co.uk), 6 Dan Smith (Team DFL), 7 Andrew Roach (Team Rochelle), 8 Rob Hurd (Bioagrico Fabelec Selexion) @ 5:00, 9 Danny Axford (Arctic Shorter Rochford), 10 Gary Dodd (Sigma Sport RT) @ 5:08.

John Ibbotson Memorial E/1/2/3 - 84 miles:1 Tony Gibb (Team DFL) E 03:20:57, 2 Shaun Snodden (Recycling.co.uk E), 3 Robin Sharman (Recycling.co.uk E) @ 1:09, 4 Colin Roshier (Team Quest) E, 5 Danny Axford (Arctic Shorter Rochford) E @ 1:45, 6 Gary Dodd (Sigma Sport RT) 1 @ 3:59, 7 Rob Hurd (Bioagrico Fabeler Selexion) E, 8 Duncan Urquhart (Viner Bikes Agisko) E, 9 Mark Daly (Team Darenth) 1, 10 Jamie Higgins (private member) 1 @ 4:44.