WEST FIFE cycle star Rab Wardell pedalled back to the Kingdom to compete in a prestigious mountain bike event last weekend.
The 35-year-old, who is originally from Dunfermline but now lives in Glasgow, was one of the stellar names that took part in round three of the British Cycling National Cross-Country Series at Lochore Meadows Country Park over May 7-8.
The series, in which Isla Short, a competitor with Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Games four years ago in the Gold Coast, competed in in the elite female category, takes place over five rounds and is held in an Olympic Cross-Country (XCO) format.
Races for all age categories took place across both Saturday and Sunday and Wardell, who himself jumped into the saddle for his country at the Commonwealth Games, in Melbourne in 2006, was one of those with West Fife connections taking part.
Seeded sixth going into the race, and fresh from having competed at the Lousada International XCO near Porto, in Portugal, Wardell, who two years ago set a record completion time for cycling the West Highland Way, said that the opportunity to race close to home was "a great opportunity" as he also sought to win world ranking points.
He took to the course in the elite male race and went on, with Rory McGuire and Joe Beckingsale, to form the group that would lead for the remainder.
Despite his best efforts, Wardell couldn't overhaul Leslie Bike Shop-Bikers Boutique's McGuire, who took first place, but a second-place finish, in 1:32.24, ensured a first podium place this year, a first UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) top three finish since 2013, and a best-ever finish in a British Mountain Bike Series race.
Short topped the standings in the elite female race (1:28.15) while, in the super veteran male race, another West Fife cyclist joined Wardell on the podium.
Brendan Roe, competing for the Ryan's Bike Surgery-Thomson Homes team, place third in 1:39:11, finishing behind winner, Grant Johnson (1:34.35), and Bruce Rollinson (All Terrain Cycles Ride In Peace, 1:37.18).
The third-place finish for Roe came two weeks after he won the super veteran male age group race at round two of the SXC (Scottish Cross-Country) Mountain Bike Race Series in Falkirk.
Another rider with the Ryan's Bike Surgery-Thomson Homes team, the idea of late Inverkeithing bike shop owner, and cyclist, Sandy Wallace, and backed by Inverkeithing-based Ryan's Bike Surgery, and Cowdenbeath-based Thomson Homes, Hamish Creber, competed in the expert male race, while Fife Revolutions cycle speedway member Kayden Davidson, riding for Team Andrew Allan Architecture, raced in the junior male category.
Ahead of the event, Wardell told Press Sport: "It's the highest level of cross-country mountain bike race you'll see in Britain this year.
"I think the only thing it really compares to is the national championships, which will take place in Glentress, in Peebles, this summer.
"It's also an opportunity to see some of the riders that might compete in the World Championships, which take place in Scotland next year.
"Next year, we have the first-ever cycling World Championships taking place in Glasgow and throughout Scotland. It's basically going to be a like a cycling Olympics taking place in Scotland next year. I think it's going to be a huge boost for cycling in Scotland, and hopefully bring cycling to new audiences as well."
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