Hunt has to settle for top ten finish

JEREMY HUNT'S hopes of a third British Senior Road Race Championship title faded in the closing stages of a gruelling, action-packed battle in South Wales.

Veteran pro Hunt (Cervelo Test Team), from Dartington, eventually finished tenth, in a group behind the breakaway quartet which produced surprise winner Kristian House of the home-based Rapha Condor team.

The 100-mile race destroyed the dreams of all but the strongest men.

The field was the strongest for years, and Britain's returning European pros, including crack sprinter Mark Cavendish, Olympic hero Bradley Wiggins and Tour de France veteran David Millar, lost no time in going on the attack.

The fast and furious pace was too much for many riders, but two men who did survive were Hunt and Jon Locke of Kingsteignton's Mid-Devon CC/Colin Lewis Cycles.

Then, over several laps of a testing closing circuit which followed the ascent of the three-mile Tumble climb, debutant Chris Froome (Barloworld) launched a succession of brave attacks.

Locke's chances faded after he misjudged a sharp corner and virtually came to a halt.

He eventually retired, but Hunt kept going in the hope that the race might come together again and he could use his powerful sprint finish.

Froome, born in Kenya but now a British citizen, was caught with only two miles to go by House, Paul Kennaugh (100% ME), Hunt's teammate Daniel Lloyd (Cervelo Test Team) and Ian Stannard (ISD).

Stannard succumbed to an attack of cramp, but in the closing sprint through the streets of Abergavenny it was House who got the better of Lloyd and Kennaugh.

Froome, the unsung hero of the race, was fourth.

The Mid-Devon CC/Colin Lewis Cycles trio of Jake Durant, Josh Hunt and Jack Baker ride in Saturday's Junior championship.

Hunt, Jeremy's younger brother, finished in the top-20 after a spirited effort which frequently saw him near the front of the race.

Paignton's Ella Hopkins also rode in the Ladies Under-23 event.