BROMSGROVE cyclist Phil Blacker snatched victory by a whisker last Sunday at the 58km Ashbourne Cup Circuit Race in Darley Moor, Derbyshire.

Riding for Wyre Forest Cycle Racing Club, Blacker surged through the final straight for his third victory of the season while team mate Elliot Dinsdale finished back in the bunch.

With five laps to go, the leaders were caught after a long chase. Blacker, who has won at Leamington Spa and Banbury this year, joined three other riders to form the race-winning move with four laps to go.

With the bunch languishing 30 seconds behind, helped by a sterling marshalling job by Dinsdale, Blacker was in a great position coming into the final lap.

Around the last bend and up the finishing straight, Phil fought his way to the line to take a hard-earned victory by a whisker.