Cycling: Alex Coutts has to play second fiddle to Meadowbank's local stars

ROAD cycling star Alex Coutts paid a rare visit to the DHL Meadowbank National Track League last night.

But, while the former Tour of Thailand winner played his part in some competitive racing, he had no answer to the pace of the track regulars, who served up a feast of entertaining racing for a vociferous crowd who were enjoying the first warm night of the season.

The programme featured an engrossing duel between Bruce Croall (City of Edinburgh) and Dave Martin (Bicycleworks), although their personal battle was eclipsed by the efforts of Croall's team mate Nicky Hall. Croall edged out Martin in the 20-lap event and they took two intermediate sprints apiece to share second spot in the course des primes behind Hall, who also took the honours in the Devil Take the Hindmost.

It was the ten-kilometre scratch event which produced the tightest finish, though. Croall burst from the pack at the bell and looked to be heading for victory but Martin battled back and the pair remained locked together down the home straight before Martin snatched the win by a tyre's width.

Meanwhile, the youths' league featured a fine win for Kate McCullough-Young (Edinburgh Racers) over a four-lap course.