JON LOCKE threw down the best possible marker at the start of the senior British cycling season when he won the elite Jock Wadley Memorial Road Race on his own in Essex.

The 24-year-old former Mid-Devon CC/Colin Lewis Cycles No.1 attacked a breakaway group of six riders with nearly 15 of the 84 miles to go.

Locke, who became a full-time pro with the Rapha Condor Sharp team in the winter, rode so powerfully that no one could chase or catch him.

His solo victory sets him up for a tilt at next week's Tour of Normandy in France.

Yet Locke, who lives near Plymouth but has worked in Paignton for the last two years, is in no doubt of the tougher test to come.

"I felt good and it's great to win," he said.

"But it's a race to prepare for next week really.

"The Tour of Normandy will be a real change of level.

"There'll be some top European teams there, and stages of 200K. It's going to be pretty hard.

"I'm not setting my sights too high. If I can do a job for the team, then I'll be happy."

Locke also rode in the shorter Roy Thame Cup race in Buckinghamshire on Saturday.

Rapha Condor supplied the winner of that event too, Australian rider Darren Lapthorne.

Rapha team manager John Herety had praised new signing Locke at the Roy Thame race, and the former Bristol University student lived up to his billing on Sunday.

Four riders made an early breakaway, and Locke joined them with Dan Staite (Cycles Dauphine).

"I thought about going for it with four laps to go, but that seemed a bit ambitious," he said.

"I knew my team were working at the front of the bunch, but when they heard I was away with two laps to go, they eased up.

"I think the manager is happy that he signed me, and I've made the selection for all the races I want to do at this time of the season."

After the Tour of Normandy, Locke and Rapha Condor face a busy couple of months, including trips to Scotland, France for the Circuit des Ardennes, the United States for the Tour Of New York State and Ireland for the Milk Ras.