In the final event of a fantastic evening's bike racing, the race was all about one man: Cyclefit's Warrick Spence. While it may have been national criterium champion James McCullum (Plowman Craven/Evans Cycles) who got to spray the champagne from the podium, there will be many a glass raised in celebration of Spence's ride.

In slippery conditions around the famous London meat market, Spence's superior bike handling through the treacherous corners saw him pull away to a 25 second lead early on and then proceed to hold off a chasing pack until around 15 minutes from the end of the one hour plus five laps race. By the time he was caught he had lapped much fo the field and reduced the starting list of 40 or so down to a field of 13 with only eight of those left in contention.

Dean Downing (Rapha-Condor) and McCullum led the chase of the lone rider, with support from their teams, but even as the chase closed in it was clear that the crowd were behind the London-based Kiwi in his gleaming white kit. The pace of the riders through the tight corners of the circuit was enough to have most of the crowd gasping and just how near to the limit they were riding.

When it came to the finish McCallum and Downing were the two quickest out of the last corner, with the National Champ showing a final turn of speed to lead over the line with Downing and Jon Mozley (Merlin RT) trailing in his wake. Spence was not far behind in fourth.

Earlier in the day the crowd had been treated to a fine spectacle of racing with a lively 2/3 support race marred by a couple of nasty crashes, a pacy "All-stars" race and a Courier race. Perhaps the highlight of the entertainment, and certainly the one many were looking forward to was the Folding Bike Race. Keenly contested and run in the midst of a torrential downpour it was a delightful sight to see 40 suited riders on folding bikes pelting round the circuit. Hopefully the event will return bigger and brighter next year. London cycling needs it.