Another week, another puncture for Dominique Mayho.

The Island’s top cyclist was on course for a first win in this year’s Flying Colours Mountain Bike Series, until his bad luck struck again at the Bermuda National Museum.

Mayho, who grabbed a decisive win at the cyclo-cross race at Astwood Park last week, was once again in dominating mood.

Leading from the start, only Robin Horsfield could stick with Mayho, and the pair had already opened up a big gap by the time they entered Casemates for the first time.

A large group of chasers led by Matthew Oliviera, Dylan Hill, Kaden Hopkins, Gary Raynor, Mario Brooks, and Chequan Richardson all tried to keep Mayho within reach as they negotiated the narrow doorways, and tight turns for the first time.

Mayho and Horsfield threaded their way through with ease, but the chasers, lost more time as Oliviera slid out on the tiled floor holding them all up, giving the leading pair a few more valuable seconds advantage.

Eventually, Mayho broke away from Horsfield, but just as he appeared to be taking total control of the race, he suffered a puncture, as he had during the previous stage at the Arboretum, forcing him out of the race.

Horsfield was eventually reeled in by Hill and Oliviera, leaving the trio to battle it out for first as the rest of the riders fell behind an unrelenting pace.

With none of the front three able to take control it turned into a tactical battle, which at one point took an almost bizarre turn when they came to a grinding stop, and in what resembled a weigh-in for a major prize fight the three youngsters looked at each other almost baiting each other to take the lead.

The action quickly resumed at a furious pace until the final lap when Horsfield landed the knockout blow as he attacked immediately leading into the technical finish, and held on for the win, with Oliviera and Dylan crossing the line almost together.

Racing at the same time was the men’s veteran category, which saw an intriguing competition with the winner of the first two races, Hans Hirchi setting the pace with Dexter Swan matching him all the way.

A strong chase group containing Peter Dunne, Karen Bordage, Paulo Medieros and Charles Swart continued putting in workmanlike efforts trying to minimise the gap.

Lap after lap Hirschi and Swan maintained their lead, but just as it appeared that the chasers would be challenging for third place, the two leaders seemed to lose their momentum as they watched each other’s every move.

Seeing an opportunity, Swart put in an extra effort and had the energy left to make a late move and secure a well-earned victory. Hirschi was second and Swan third.

Once again the B category race provided the biggest field, but as in the first two races of the season three riders took control from the start with Adam Kirk, Andrew Hern and Padraic Browne this time battling for honours.

The action was fast and furious as they all tried to get the upper hand, but it was not until the final lap that Hern managed to break the deadlock, and with half a lap to go he broke away from Browne and a fading Kirk to glide home.

Alyssa Rowes was in a class of her own again in the women’s B race, winning by almost seven minutes over Tristan Narraway. Narraway had a great battle with Cassy McPhee for second, managing to eventually take control crossing the line with McPhee 22 seconds back.

Chase Toogood made it three wins in three races in the Novice event, but was pushed to the line by Ziani Burgesson who finished just three seconds behind. Making his first appearance of the season Usseff Eve rounded out the top three.

In the women’s Novice event Elizabeth Stewart, Andrea Proctor and Rebecca were the top three finishers.

Kion Richardson won his first race of the season beating out Alex Miller and Blake Oliviera in the boys 13-15 category. Lea Balestrieri was the girls winner. Finally in the 12 and under categories, Ahzai Smith just edged out Remy Coddington with Zico Smith coming in third, while sisters Zoe and Jasmin Haselkuss took the top two places in the girls race.