IT was a classic head-to-head around Abergavenny’s town centre last Friday evening as Newport’s Jon Mould was pipped to the post by new National Road Race champion - Connor Swift.

For 40 minutes on a baking hot evening, Commonwealth Games silver medallist Mould battled it out with the 22-year-old Yorkshireman.

But Mould was out-sprinted in the last few 100 metres of the HSBC British Cycling Elite Town Centre Series second stage.

And 27-year-old Gold Coast Commonwealth Games road race silver medallist Mould had no complaints about the result.

He said, “Once we got away, it was hard for the first 20 minutes but then we got the gap and settled down into a good rhythm between the both of us.

“It was not like a lucky move that we got away. It was literally that we whacked it and it came off.

“We were taking equal turns (at the front) between us. Connor came through with two laps to go and he kicked quite hard. I was hoping my legs were the best coming out of the last hairpin on the course.

“I got to it first, did everything I wanted to do but just didn’t have strong enough legs to get the best of Connor.

“I’m disappointed not to win with the home crowd shouting my name but I’ll fight on.”

Swift came past the chequered flag with a few bike lengths lead over Mould but went flying around a tight corner as he celebrated, cutting his right leg and needing medical attention.

He explained, “I had gone around that corner all race but that last time over line, I gave a bit of a celebration and took the corner too hard and slid out, but I’m alright.”