HALESOWEN Cycling Club's academy made their mark on the West Midlands toughest bike race over the weekend, with Matt Clarke winning a stage in the Giro del Mon in Shropshire, Charles Walker taking the points jersey and Cameron Biddle finishing sixth overall against a strong national field.

In the three-day, five stage event based in Minsterley, and on local roads for sponsors Wenlock Spring, the Halesowen riders best day was Sunday, when Clarke and Walker both figured in a stage-winning escape of 14 riders on a windy circuit on Shawbury RAF base, with Clarke taking flight close to the finish to win the stage, with Walker leading in the chasers for second.

That result left Walker in the yellow race leader's jersey going into Monday's final stage over four laps of a tough circuit including the 2.5 mile climb of Stiperstones. The Halesowen rider was also best under-23, and had won the points jersey - awarded for daily stage placings and intermediate sprints - with a day to spare thanks to a strong performance on day one where he placed fourth.

The final stage was made for the best climbers, however, and after remaining in contention for half the 70-miles, Walker eventually lost ground when the main pack split to pieces on the third ascent of Stiperstones. He would finish four minutes behind the leaders and slip to 18th overall. Clarke, meanwhile, had his chances abruptly ended when he punctured three times in the space of two miles.

However, the climbing specialist Biddle came into his own on this tough terrain, and figured constantly among the leaders until the final sprint at the top of Stiperstones was decided by five riders. He ran out just 4sec behind stage winner Liam Holohan of Rhino Velo, with former Halesowen rider Jack Stanton-Warren just behind.

In the two-day support race run on Saturday and Sunday, Halesowen fielded a three-rider team with Daniel Morris placing 11th overall after he and team mate James Pheysey finished ninth and seventh respectively. The Halesowen team were unlucky to lose Henry Lloyd-Langston, who crashed on day two and broke his collarbone.