IT was better late than never for Lancashire’s Ian Bibby after it took him hours to reach Abergavenny on Friday night for the sixth round of the British Cycling Elite Circuit Series of which he is the reigning champion.

But it was worth the effort as the 29-year-old came home in a thrilling sprint finish to the Wales Open Criterium race to cross the line in first place.

Bibby left it until the last bend to mount his effort to the line and crossed it in first place ahead of Pedal Heaven rider Harry Tanfield, who completed a great week in Monmouthshire with second spot, having won the Chepstow Grand Prix on Wednesday night.

And he was just a bike length ahead of Newport’s Jon Mould, who was back in the saddle for the first time since dominating the Tour Series in the Spring where he crashed on the final leg and damaged his shoulder as a result.

The usual notorious Friday night motorway traffic meant a horrible drive south for the national champion and he admitted, “We got here late with only about twenty minutes to go. It took us seven-and-a-half hours to drive here so we nearly missed it but I’m glad we made it."

Madison Genesis ace Matt Cronshaw injected the early pace into the hour-long contest and broke away to a 12 second lead before he was hauled back by the peloton.

And, with a hot pace being set at the front, 12 riders broke free and, with the group whittle down by one rider in the closing ten minutes, they stayed in front all the way to the last lap and the last turn.

Bibby, who won the Elite Circuit Series title last year, made his bid for glory as they entered the final straight and, with the road very narrow, it was difficult for anyone to get past him and he took the chequered flag - although without the usual winner’s salute of raising his arms in the air.

There was a reason why he did not salute.

Bibby said. "I was presuming Mouldy would be coming alongside me and I didn’t put my hands in the air. I keep forgetting because I keep thinking I’m not going to win and then I do."

There are only a few more races left in the Elite Circuit Series before Bibby’s right to wear the National champion’s jersey comes to an end but he was happy to get one victory under his belt before passing it over to someone else as he is not going to successfully defend it this year.

He added, "I wanted to get a win in. At the Tour Series, I thought I could do well in that so I was a bit disappointed that I didn’t so I am glad to finally get a win in the jersey. There are not many rounds left (of the Elite Circuit Series) now so it was good timing, really.

"At the start of the race, I was a little bit off the pace and the race split. Luckily, I jumped across on my own and got really close, then blew up and got across again. It settled down from there.

"With three or four laps to go, it kicked off and there was a massive fight. There was a fight on the last bend and I went from there. I got my head down, it is quite narrow and didn’t look behind me. Luckily, nobody came around."