Three Sussex riders were among the successful four-man breakaway in the Brighton Excelsior's 60-mile road race at Barcombe.

But London rider Simon Farmer won the final sprint.

Andy Green (Brighton Mitre) and Mark Jones (GS Stella) staged an early attack and were then joined by Stuart Fahey (Mitre) and Farmer.

The quartet held off the main field but, on the uphill finish, Farmer drew clear to finish ten seconds ahead of Green, who was also second last year, with Fahey third and last year's winner Jones in fourth.

Green said: "I've been told that Farmer is a good mountain biker, but he is obviously strong on the road as well. He left us trailing when he sprinted ahead on the climb to the finish."

JON Sharples (In Gear) won the East Sussex CA's two time trials.

He clocked 21min.17sec in the ten-mile event at East Hoathly to beat clubmate Steve Elms by three seconds.

Boyd Johnson (Eastbourne Rovers) was third (22min.8sec). Peacehaven's Clive Oxborrow (VC Etoile) finished fourth (22min.59sec) and Andy Rolfe (Eastbourne Rovers) fifth (23min.8sec). Paul Charlton clocked 23min.37sec to complete Eastbourne's winning team.

Harry Featherstone (Eastbourne) returned to competition after a back strain to win the veterans' event in 23min.50sec, while Jack Bowry (Brighton Excelsior) was fastest junior (26min.43sec).

Sharples won the 25-mile event at Maresfield in exactly 54min.0sec, beating East Grinstead's Steve Dennis by 17 seconds.

Elms was third (55min.27sec) and, with new signing James Dear fourth (55min.42sec), the team prize went to In Gear.

TONY Richardson (Mitre) was third in a gruelling duathlon at Goodwood. Competitors took part in two 5km runs either side of a 40km bike race.

Horsham Riders had a good entry for their mountain bike races in Rome Wood. Paul Byford (Pedal Power, Crawley) won the main six-lap race ahead of Mike Thyer (Southwater Cycles). Horsham pair Barry Dunstan and Roger Campbell were the four-lap and two-lap winners.