MARCIN Bialoblocki of NODE4 Giordano Racing won the 40th Severn Bridge Road Race in tremendous style in wet and windy conditions on the challenging North Bristol circuit.

In the event, organised by the Bristol Road Club, Bialoblocki was over a minute ahead of Matt Jones (Team Corley Cycles) and Jamie Sparling (Team Raleigh).

Attacking from a ten-man break which formed on lap two, Bialoblocki went away with three of the ten laps to go, with the remains of the break fragmenting and then getting back together as a six-man group in vain pursuit of a flying Marcin. Despite being wet, windy and cold, 80 riders took to the line with the conditions making for a steady start before the break went away on lap two and quickly gained 30 seconds over the rest.

Irish under-23 Philip Lavery (NODE4 Giordana Racing) consistently took maximum points for the King of the Mountains competition on Old Down Hill and, with most of the top teams represented in the break, there was no concerted chase as the gap continued to stretch.

With the sun trying to show its face and roads drying out, Bialoblocki made his move on the eighth lap and was never seen again as the group splintered behind him under a number of futile attempts to get across.

“I feel good,” said the 28-year-old winner, based in Bridgwater, Somerset. “I've done a lot of training over the winter and been to two training camps, but it was a bit hard today. I got back from Singapore last night after a 24-hour journey and only managed a quick night's sleep before the race.”

The race marked the return of Oli Beckingsale (Endura Racing) after a lengthy injury break. “I'm a month behind in my training and have only done endurance work,” he said. On a day like today, you want to get in the mix, but the break went so early I missed it, and with a lot of strong teams with guys in there, it was job done.”

Results (top ten): 1 Marcin Bialoblocki (E NODE4 Giordana Racing) 2:34:00; 2 Matt Jones (E U23 Team Corley Cycles); 3 Jamie Sparling (E Team Raleigh - GAC); 4 Colin Parry (E LWilier/Live2ride); 5 Dale Appleby (E Metaltek-Scott); 6 Robert Smail (E Team Wallis CHH); 7 Tom Stockdale (1 U23 Primal Europe-RUtraining-today.co.uk); 8 Tobyn Horton (E Team Raleigh - GAC); 9 Toby Eichler (1 L Wilier-Live2ride); 10 David Clarke (E NODE4 Giordana Racing).

LifeCare KOM winner: Philip Lavery (NODE4 Giordana Racing). Argos team prize: Team Raleigh - GAC.

1st local rider: Colin Parry (Wilier/Live2ride); 2nd local rider: Toby Eichler (Wilier/Live2ride). 1st U23 rider: Matt Jones (Team Corley Cycles); 1st junior: Ash Martin (Cadence Cannondale RT).