Cycling: Rest pays off for surprised Arnstein

Teenager Tom Arnstein, riding for the Capital outfit Velo Ecosse, was an impressive, if unheralded, winner of the Gifford road race over 65 miles in East Lothian on Saturday.

The 17-year-old featured in a six-man break that dwindled to two inside the final two miles, and he produced a powerful finish to outsprint Scottish time trial champion Arthur Doyle (Dooley’s), with Englishman Andrew Hawdon (Herbalife) making his trip north worthwhile when he took third place.

A surprised Arnstein said of his success: “I wasn’t expecting that in the slightest. I’d rested a bit coming up to it, my legs felt good and I felt quite comfortable all the way round.”

Peter Hamilton (Musselburgh RCC) made local knowledge count when he won the support race, while Claire Martin of the host club, Edinburgh RC, was the leading women’s rider.

Meanwhile, Scottish road race champion Evan Oliphant made a solid debut for Team Raleigh when he shared the same time as race winner Russell Downing (Endura Racing) at the Eddie Soens Memorial Road Race in Liverpool.

Downing led a clean sweep for the West Lothian-based outfit.