Clarke emulates Wiggo with super win (From Halesowen News)

Clarke emulates Wiggo with super win

6:00pm Friday 17th August 2012 in Sport

HALESOWEN Cycling Club ace Matt Clarke took the best win of his career so far in the Green Bike Company road race.

The 18-year-old broke away from the leading bunch with one-kilometre remaining of the 80-mile race, held near Worcester, crossing the line with a ten second advantage over the second-placed rider.

Clarke had got into a breakaway of 14 riders on the first lap but this was reduced to seven as heavy rain made the going very tough.

The win was made all the more special when Clarke spotted the name of a certain Bradley Wiggins on the trophy — the Tour de France winner and Olympic gold medallist having won the same race 11 years ago.

Clarke said: “I went with the break knowing it would stay away as the rain would put off other riders in the peleton.

“Then I had the confidence and knew exactly where to go on the climb and then I rode as fast as I could to the finish.

“It is an amazing feeling to have beaten some top elite riders in awful conditions and it has got to be my most prestigious victory.

“It’s also a great honour to see my name engraved on a trophy which includes some top professionals.”