BRIDPORT’S Primera-sports.com rider Calum Croft racked up his first major city centre criterium win at the Tour Series support race in Bath.

The cyclist out sprinted a seven-man breakaway group to clinch victory on a testing course that took on the cobbled streets of the iconic Royal Crescent.

“There’s hardly any tactics in a race like that, no hiding” explained an elated Croft. “It’s just full gas from the gun, a proper war of attrition, and that suits me well.

“Two laps in, I just drilled it on the front for a lap or two, and every time I looked behind there were less and less people managing to cling on.”

As the smoke settled after Croft’s efforts indeed only six remained, then in the moments of respite that followed Glyndwr Griffiths of Arctic Tacx RT bridged and made it seven.

Going into the closing laps, Richard Harris of Cwmcarn Paragon (winner at the Aberystwyth round of the series) put in some punishing attacks across the cobbles in an attempt to further fracture the group but Croft remained vigilant and followed them all.

Croft added: “Between him (Harris) and Mark Perry alone there were some impressive race winners among that group.

“I wasn’t keen on dragging the likes of Jason White and Dan McQuillan into the sprint either but I fancied my chances so I shut down the early attacks rather than making any of my own. It worked a charm and I’m chuffed with the result.”

Croft next races the Bristol GP among a strong elite field of racers.