A shorter and simpler course this year from Hugh Cotton retained the Fin Cop experience. The prologue to it consisted in a gradual climb through fields to Monsal Head and descent to Monsal Dale whilst the epilogue comprised a long scenic, but sometimes uncomfortable, contour back to Ashford.

Doubts over the exact nature of the route resulted in some early bunching. When Mike Pedley and Dave Holmes did try their hand at leading they found inside knowledge (which they didn\'t have having not recce\'d the course) to be much more useful than a map (which they did have but showed a course which owed a lot to artistic licence). Consequently, their 50m lead turned into a 50m deficit!

At Fin Cop the real race began and Darrell Bradbury together with Dave Beresford pulled out a significant lead on the gruelling climb. They avoided some minor confusion afflicting others on the precise route into Ashford for Darrell to claim victory by 11 seconds.

25 starters