ABERYSTWYTH took centre stage as the 2016 Pearl Izumi Tour rolled into town, with the JLT Condor team cruising to a fifth win of the Series in the main event of a hugely successful Aber Cycle Festival.

As an electrical storm lashed the Aberystwyth circuit, causing the race to be shortened, JLT Condor extended their lead at the top of the standings over Madison Genesis back out to three points.

The Series leaders were helped to victory by a one-two for Jon Mould and Graham Briggs, with the Welshman picking up his second win on consecutive nights.

The win also means Mould draws level with Ed Clancy as the most successful rider in Tour Series history, with eight wins.

On Aberystwyth’s technical circuit, a 17-rider group contested the finish in a fast paced race, with all the major teams represented at the front, but thanks to the efforts of Mould, Briggs, seventh placed Alex Frame and 11th positioned Ed Clancy the team won by two seconds.

Mould’s victory means JLT Condor have a clean sweep of individual wins from all six events to be held in Aberystwyth since 2011, and every race in the 2016 Series.

Local star Gruff Lewis crossed the line in 13th position after completing 31 laps, helping Madison Genesis to second place overall in the Team Overall Classification.

Earlier the town centre criterium racing some provided thrilling races, with an eventful final support race for second, third and fourth category license holders.

Local rider Dan Davies (Ale-Cipollini-DMT) dictated at the front of the field and he looked certain for a podium finish.

On the final corner, however, he carried too much speed into the off-camber right hander and hit the barriers. He led his immediate three followers to the same fate, whilst the next two riders got caught up in each others’ wheels and hit the ground.

This led to 46 year-old veteran of the Welsh road scene, Gerry Bowditch to take victory, having also been part of the nine-man move which had seperated itself from the rest of the 60 man field earlier in the race. Jacob Phelps finished in second place and Kristian Bond claimed third.

Llanidloes’ Tyler Brennan took an impressive win in the race for 4th category and junior riders. A former Ystwyth CC rider and now a member of the Builth Wells Bulls team, Brennan won from a close bunch finish in what was a quality full field, with Danny Roberts taking second place and Eifion Rees finishing third.

Finishing their race just as the heavens opened, the first ever Aberystwyth Women’s criterium saw local girl and former Welsh track star Tanwen Haf take the win.

Ystwyth CC members, sisters Lois and Leah Brewer, took second and third.

The popular Aber Cycle Festival had also included junior racing, downhill mountain biking, a hill climb knockout, and mass participation distance rides.