EIGHT of the South West?s best cyclo-cross riders travelled to London to participate in the Inter Area Team Championship at the Lea Valley Cycle Circuit, Eastway on Sunday. The squad included North Devon Wheelers? Steve Sage whose overall fifth place in the South West cyclo-cross series earned him his place in the team. The South West had entered a team of three in the veterans? race and the other five riders were to ride the senior event. The veterans were the first to race on Sunday morning. The team performed very well and were pleased to finish with an overall team position of sixth place, this despite two riders being delayed by punctures through the course of the hour long event. The seniors? race was always going to be a tough proposition. The start list included a former Tour de France rider and a current Olympian but all five riders were not daunted by the task ahead of them. Steve Sage performed above his expectations to finish in the top half of the field and was the team?s second points scorer towards the squad?s overall position of eighth. Despite the strong field their overall position was a big improvement on last year?s placing of twelfth. Next year they will be looking for a similar improvement. Steve now has a month off from racing but he will soon be back in action along with fellow North Devon Wheelers at the first races of the new road and time trial season in the middle of February.
