Dexter Gardias finished fifth in the Ryedale Grand Prix as Ollie Wood celebrated victory for Team Wiggins in Ampleforth.
Madison Genesis rider Matt Holmes was runner-up, while Graham Briggs, of JLT Condor, rounded out the podium places in the penultimate round of the Grand Prix Series.
But despite Gardias’ disappointment at not clinching victory, he has risen to the summit of the overall standings ahead of the final round – the Leicester Castle Classic – on Sunday, August 13.
James Lowsley-Williams had earlier produced a brave ride in a two-man break with JLT’s Tom Moses, the powerful duo boasting an advantage of around six minutes at one stage.
However, cramp in the BIKE Channel Canyon man’s lower back forced his premature retirement before his companion was finally reeled in by a much-reduced peloton.
And that prompted the sparring of the remaining contenders, with Madison’s Rich Handley among the first to hit out as the 150.6km contest reached its climax.
Max Stedman then escaped with Handley, Briggs, Metaltek Kuota’s Dan Fleeman and Wiggins’ Nathan Draper, gaining a lead of 20 seconds inside the final 15km.
But when they were brought back, the decisive group of eight got away with Gardias among those in with a shout of glory in the final uphill sprint outside Ampleforth Abbey.
Wood timed his finish to perfection, though, coming around his rivals in the final 50 yards to grab the win from Holmes as Gardias had to make do with fifth position.
Stedman crossed the line in 18th at 16sec, with Rob Partridge and Jack Pullar 42nd and 43rd at 7.17. Click here for the full result. For the overall series standings, click here.
