THE Rapha Condor-Sharp team stormed to victory in in the twists and turns of Abergavenny town centre on Friday night, sweeping the board with first, second and third place in the Get Connected Welsh Open Criterium.

It was all Rapha in the third round of the British Cycling Elite Race Series as Rotherham's Dean Downing took first place, followed by team mates Graham Briggs in second and Dean Windsor third.

36-year-old British cycling ace Downing missed out on his daughter Lily's second birthday to pound the streets of our fair town and go head to head with some of Britain's best riders.

After being drenched with celebratory champagne by his team-mates, Downing said, "I think most of the world knows it is my daughter's birthday today. I have had a few seconds (places) this year so to win on her birthday is pretty special.

"We had a little party going on in the morning but I left to come here. It was a long drive from Yorkshire but it has definitely been worthwhile."

Downing went into the lead around 45 minutes into the hour-long race to secure the win he wanted.

The Rotheram racer's victory was enough to put him on top of the Series rankings after three rounds, and in a position to go a step further than the second overall he achieved last year.

Downing added that the clean sweep by Rapha was a real team effort and explained, "We had a chat as a team before the race and agreed Dean and I would be front runners knowing we had two other riders in Briggsy and Jimmy Mac (James McCallum) who could win the race as well.

"We proved that tonight that we are a strong Crit team, but I was still happy to get away on my own tonight."

The Abergavenny Grand Prix was the third round of British Cycling's prestigious 2011 Elite Circuit Race Series and those taking part are competing for points and the honour of being crowned the overall series champion. The series will see many of the UK's leading teams doing battle for a series that was won last year by Olympic champion Ed Clancy.

Abergavenny race organiser Bill Owen enthused, "Road cycling is fast and furious and as riders hurtle around the town centre it is an exhilarating spectator sport.

"The Abergavenny Cycle Races are a fantastic opportunity for people from across Wales to see some of the stars of the sport in action ahead of London 2012, as well as cheering on local talent. We had an absolutely amazing turnout of both competitors and spectators this year and the event just goes from strength to strength."