Newton gets his timing right

The Olympic hopeful Chris Newton pulled on the yellow jersey for the fifth time this year after winning the time-trial stage of the Thwaites Grand Prix near Preston, writes Robin Nicholl. He averaged 22mph over a 3.3-mile course, finishing 13 seconds ahead of Jon Clay, the 1992 winner of this five-day race through Lancashire and Cumbria.

Newton deposed his team-mate, Paul Jennings, from his overnight lead after starting the day 15 seconds in arrears. Newton's speed against the clock has given him the lead four times previously in races as far apart as Malaysia and Scotland, and he said yesterday: "I hope I can hang on to this one. Our team is now pulling together better than in the previous races when I was our only man in contention, so there is every chance.

"I was sure I could produce something in the time trial and even if it means defending the jersey for the rest of the race, I just had to go for it."