CALUM Croft claimed victory at Exeter’s West-point circuit, speeding away from his breakaway companions in the closing laps to take his fourth race victory of the season in solo fashion.

Riding for Mud, Sweat ’n’ Gears CC, the Bridport rider has been asserting himself on the south and south west race scenes this year, but also nationally, going well in the National B classified Bourne-mouth Criterium (sixth), and the National A One Day In Dorset (18th).

In July, Croft took part in the gruelling five-day Ras de Cymru (Tour of South Wales) getting top 10s in both the time trials, and holding his own on the mountain stage to finish 17th in the general classification out of a starting 100 riders from across the UK.

Croft said: “It’s always great going and getting wins in Exeter, it’s really fertile ground for me down there.

“Equally though some of my podiums, top fives, 10s and 20s in the much bigger, harder road races are just as important to me, especially as a relative newcomer, and often reward me with more licence points.”

The race season gets quieter for the latter months of the year, but Croft intends to continue racing well into September in an effort to achieve a first category licence, before knuckling down to some winter training.