SIMON Hime put home knowledge to good use to see off an 80-strong field of cyclists at the St Ives Cycling Club Plastribution Road Race.

SIMON Hime put home knowledge to good use to see off an 80-strong field of cyclists at the St Ives Cycling Club Plastribution Road Race.

Riding for Finchley RT, Hime was first over the line in the 57-mile race, held over five-and-a-half laps of the Sawtry circuit, starting at Wood Walton Hill.

He made the most of the conditions, which stayed dry, but had to battle the wind constantly as he broke the bunch with a solo attack.

After a slow start in the leading group, attacks did eventually start to take effect, and Hime waited for his opportunity. On the penultimate lap he launched his attack, building a lead of 300m on the bunch as he took the bell for the final lap.

The shell-shocked pack looked drained, and Hime was able to extend his lead in the final lap.

“I didn’t really plan on going that early and having one-and-a-half laps by myself - but the gap was looking good so it was just a case of keeping going,” he said.

The organised pursuit was left too late and his winning margin of 2mins 4secs was comfortable.

Private member Phil Wilkins got his tyre over the line first to take the bunch sprint ahead of Jon Stephenson of Team Endura.

There were other strong performances from Fenstanton’s Sean Sumner, riding for Spuik Racing, who took an excellent sixth place on his return to racing after a two-year break, and his team-mate Paul Verlander of Offord in seventh. Malcolm Smith of St Ives CC could not match his second-place finish of last week, crossing in eighth.