THE Re-Cycling.co.uk/Litespeed team came to Hampshire armed to the teeth with a veritable Who's Who of current British World and Olympic medallists.

Former World points race champion Chris Newton and multi Olympic medallist Rob Hayles were among them.

The field for the 40th running of the Perf's Pedal Race at Rowlands Castle also included former national champion Julian Winn, fresh from the ten-day Tour of Langkawi in Malaysia.

On a freezing cold day, the field lined up for the 70-kilometre race still decked out in their warm weather winter clothing.

It was clear from the start that the re-cycling boys were in no mood to wait around. With only three riders in the race, it would be difficult for them to control the bunch, so they decided to race from the front.

After three laps of the six, Newton, Hayles and Winn were in the lead along with the third member of the re-cycling squad, Paul Manning.

With the trio making up three quarters of the current first choice Great Britain team pursuit squad on the track, they drove the breakaway forward.

With two laps to go, Newton, a former winner of the French classic Circuit des Mines stage race, set a blistering pace that his breakaway companions had no answer to.

RESULTS

1 Chris Newton (Recycling.co.uk/MG Xpower/Litespeed) 70km in 1-49-50,

2 Rob Hayles (Recycling.co.uk/MG Xpower/Litespeed) @ 1-20, 3 Julian Winn (Pinarello RT/Pinarello/Assos/Corima/Rudy Project) @ 1-40, 4 Paul Manning (Recycling.co.uk/MG Xpower/Litespeed) st, 5 Chris Birch (Evans Cycles RT) @ 2-35, 6 Rob Enslin (Viner Bikes/Askiso

Sports Nutrition/Mar Services/Maxxis Tyres) st, 7 Stuart Blunt (Team Edwards) st, 8 Grant Bayton (Angliasport/Condor/Campagnolo/Dedacciai) st, 9 Chris McNamara (Ewhurst Controls/Wildside/T W RC) st, 10 Rowan Horner (VC St Raphal/Waite Contracts/Hewitt Cycles) @ 3-05.