THE South West's leading cyclists are preparing for a showdown at the British Cycling South West Championships which take place on Sunday, May 22 near Hatherleigh.

The race is organised by Jake Durant (a leading competitor himself) and the British Cycling's South West Regional Road Racing Group and sponsored by South West law firm Kitsons LLP as well as Mercedes Benz of Exeter, Kalas Clothing and Colin Lewis Cycles.

Three races will take place — the first two races are for women and junior riders. Both start at 9.30am and are raced over 70km based on a testing 10km circuit around Hatherleigh, with the start finish point close to Zeal Monachoram. The favourite for the ladies race is likely to be Wiebke Rietz of First Chard Wheelers although there is a strong field including talented Gail Aspden of Squadra Dome/Shutter Bike Food. In the junior race, Brennan Townshend of Mid Devon CC/Colin Lewis Cycles will start as the rider to watch. The talented junior won the Springtime Pursuit Series and has achieved a series of good results in the National Junior Series as well as competing in some tough races in Belgium. His main challengers are likely to include George Pym of Exeter Wheelers, 1st Chard Wheeler's Seb Bayliss and Jack Plummer of Somerset RC.

The headline men's event taking place over 130km will start at 12.30pm. This race tackles the major climb of Folley Gate after just five miles before taking in a circuit of Roadford Reservoir and then five laps of the Hatherleigh circuit used by the earlier races. With three of the country's top ten ranked riders eligible to compete, the race is likely to be run off at a very challenging pace. British number two ranked Marcin Bialablock (Motorpoint/Marshalls Pasta) is expected to defend his title. Other top riders include Cornishman Chris Opie, Gary Chambers and Doug Dewey.

The men's race is expected to finish at Zeal Monachoram after 3.30pm and crowds are expected at the Folley Gate climb and at Zeal Monachoram on the finishing circuits.