CYCLING: LAURA Allen is back in the old routine and among the national cycling honours again.
She left disappointing recent results in her slipstream when riding to victory in the Under 12s Girls' British Circuit Championships.
The Widnes starlet, who rides for Abesco-Cruden New Brighton CC, overcame 14 of her fellow top riders at Wombell, near Barnsley.
She stormed down the final straight to win by a convincing margin of 10 bike lengths after outsprinting the pre-race favourite.
Laura's recent dip in form had left Hannah Manley (Maindy Flyers) as the most-fancied contender for the 12-mile, 22-lap distance.
She set a high pace from the start, leading for the first two laps and taking with her a select group of five others. Continuing attacks by Laura saw this group break up, leaving just the eventual three medallists in the hunt.
Manley was taking instructions from her coach to 'soft pedal' to allow her team-mate to regain contact with the group.
Laura, sensing the danger of having two rival team-mates in a bunch of four, was not about to let this happen and raised the pace once again - eliminating the threat and stamping her authority on the race.
Third-placed Harriet Owen (Team Keyne) was struggling to maintain contact with each lap and finally dropped with three laps to go as Laura again raised the pace.
Until now, Manley had done no work on the front and had reacted only to each change of pace by the Widnes girl.
But, with two laps to go, Manley finally made her move with an attack into the first corner.
With great speed, she leaned into the corner and sprinted strongly out of it.
Laura matched the attack then played Manley at her own game and sat up, refusing to lead out any further moves.
Now it came down to the most tactically-astute rider as both tried to establish the best position.
Into the last lap, Laura led for a short while, relinquishing the lead with 400m to go.
But shadowing Manley's every move, she bided her time. Entering the hairpin bend before the 100m finishing straight, Manley went slightly wide and Laura seized her chance going inside.
This unsettled Manley, who tried to attack back but released her foot from her pedal.
Laura accelerated away and, despite Manley's spirited sprint, finished well clear to take the National champion's jersey and gold medal.
