BROMSGROVE Olympique Cycling Club is counting the cost of success.

The club has produced many talented riders over the years who have raced at regional and national level.

Yet now they are seeing their prized possessions snatched away by the lure of sponsorship.

In the last year the club, West Midlands Cyclo Cross League winners for two of the last five seasons, has seen several junior stars move on.

Ross and Jason Dingley, together with father and former club secretary Geoff Dingley, have left for Halesowen CC, while Peter Banham and Joe Dodd jumped ship for Pershore-based Bikes 51.

Olympique's racing secretary and youth liaison officer Ian Billington said: "They wanted to move on for the benefits. Halesowen has its own facilities and track and the lads wanted to do track racing. We can't compete with that. If they want to move on we can't do anything about it really."

It is not a new problem - the club saw a whole host of racing riders leave at once in the late 1990s. As in football where players are groomed in the lower divisions before the Premiership giants snap them up, so Olympique find themselves coaching the talent before it is poached.

Talent is still coming through the ranks though. George Bate and Dominic Jelfs are both prominent U14s competitors, while Alex, Francine and Geniveve Billington remain with the club. Speeds Cycles, of Birmingham Road, have also recommended several riders.

Mr Billington added: "I like to think we can grow the club from grass roots level. It's not only the future of the club, it's the future of the sport."

To this end, the club, who cater for all ages, has brought in coach Nigel Pedley and has held skills sessions at North Bromsgrove High School.

And they stage the National Grasstrack British Schools' Cycling Association Championships there on Saturday, June 5.