MATTHEW Garthwaite took the overall lead of the Shropshire & South Staffordshire Road Race League after powering to victory in the second round.
The Rhino Velo Race Team rider from Newport, Shropshire led a breakaway group of five riders who caught the front group in the closing miles before powering to victory after 35 miles raced.
Following his 11th place finish in the first round Garthwaite’s win was enough to take the overall leader’s jersey.
Garthwaite was part of the fourth and scratch group which started eight minutes behind the first group as part of the handicapped format of the racing league.
The Charlton round is known for its fast nature with a long section up the old A5 away from Shrewsbury before looping back round through Charlton.
With Garthwaite’s team-mate Kirk Vickers in the yellow jersey following his opening round victory the fourth group worked well together catching group three two minutes ahead of them.
Garthwaite then attacked from the chasing group in search of the leading handicapped groups with less than 10 miles remaining and was joined by junior riders Jamieson Blain (Zappi Racing Team) along with Pro Vision Race Team trio Farley Barber, Daniel Brough and Jonathan Bourne.
The five riders bridged a gap of over a minute and caught the slower groups in the closing stages before Garthwaite powered to victory.
Junior rider Blain, from Belbroughton, just beat fellow youngster Barber for second and to clinch the leading junior jersey in a tightly fought competition.
Yellow jersey wearer Vickers finished with the remains of the scratch group some one minute 19 seconds behind led home by junior jersey wearer George Mills-Keeling.
Leading woman on the night was Lucy Davies (Arcmc Tacx) in 19th while women’s leader Annie Stanford (Paramount CRT) finished 31st.
