Sussex ace Sean Yates suffered a shock defeat in the Sussex CA 50-mile time trial at Dial Post.

Yates, who has worn the Yellow Jersey as leader of the Tour de France and was national 50-mile champion in 1997, looked to have the event sewn up when he recorded 1hr.55min.11sec.

It was the the first time on the leaderboard under two hours.

Steve Dennis (East Grinstead CC), who started ten minutes after Yates, had other ideas. He put in a storming finish to clock 1hr.54min.23sec.

Third fastest was Stewart Jardine (Twickenham) in 2hr.0min.4sec. Tristan Court (Brighton Mitre) finished fourth with 2hr.1min.59sec.

Fifth was Steve Woodbridge (GS Stella) in 2hr.5min.3sec and sixth Mike Marchant (Bognor Regis) in 2hr.8min.12sec.

Yates is registered with a Kent club so he wasn't eligible for the incorporated Sussex Championship.

The first three were Dennis, Court and Woodbridge. Worthing Excelsior won the team title.

A delighted Dennis said: "Everyone wants to beat Sean and this was the icing on the cake for me. To be fair, I don't think Sean has had the time just lately to train as much as he would have liked."

Simon Prior (Eastbourne Rovers) won Hampshire RC's 25-mile event at Fontwell in 55min.49sec and lead his club to the team win. Janet Homewood (Lewes Wanderers) won the women's race in 1hr.10min.4sec.

Storrington rider Mark Jones (GS Stella) almost won the 50-mile Milbury road race near Winchester, but was narrowly beaten in the sprint to the line by breakaway companion Mick Yarworth (Mick Ives Cycles).

The pair finished three minutes ahead of the chasing pack.

Hastings rider Mike Blann (VC Bayeux) won round one of the Lewes Wanderers road race series at Laughton.

Earlier in the week he was the first Sussex rider when finishing third in the Goodwood gallop at the motor circuit.

The Southwater Cycles team rode well in the South East mountain bike race in Kent. Michael Thyer and Stuart Aspinall were second and third in the Grand Veterans race, and Gordon Smith was third in the veterans' event.

Telephone promoter John Wilcox (01403 265517) for details of the Horsham Riders mountain bike meeting on Sunday at Mannings Heath.