miles to win Sunday's National Road Race Cycling Championships.

Back from school in the USA for only the last month, youngster Sequeros hadn't been expected to be a contender in the 75-mile event. But he turned up the heat in the final stages to register his first big win.

With time trial champion Greg Hopkins missing through sickness, and Heritage Day Classic winner McInnes Looby training in California, the likes of Sinclair Packwood, Mike Lee, Tim Palmer and Stephan Carpentier had been touted as favourites.

In hot, humid but windy conditions, Kevin Topple, recently back from competition in England, made the first breakaway on the second lap and, with none of the pack reacting, quickly built up a one minute lead.

That was soon extended to three minutes as Topple worked hard out front, but when team-mate Damion Wilson pulled out at 30 miles, Packwood, Palmer and Carpentier began their chase with Lee and Sequeros tucking in behind.

As the miles ticked away, a combination of workmanlike efforts from Packwood in particular saw Topple's lead reduced until, after 60 miles, an exhausted Topple was caught and quickly dropped by the pack.

Topple soon quit altogether and with the remaining riders playing cat and mouse, the race appeared headed for a sprint finish.

But Sequeros had other ideas, making a decisive break six miles from home.

Indecision among the chase pack allowed him the gap he needed, and he quickly extended his lead to 30 seconds which proved enough to hold off his challengers.

Sequeros crossed the line in three hours, 29 minutes and 49 seconds, Lee following 13 seconds later with Palmer, Packwood and Carpentier all close behind.

The junior division over 30 miles produced a closer race with rivals Duncan Simons and Kris Hedges racing neck and neck for the line. Simons' sprinting ability saw him home by just one second with Jonathan Herring a distant third, 15 minutes behind.

Another sprint finish decided the veterans' race with Richard Mason turning the tables on noted sprinter Vic Ball as both crossed the line after 45 miles in the same time of 2:07.55. Martin Bolton placed third in 2:12.12.

A small women's field saw Melanie Claude continue her winning ways of late despite a determined effort from Maggie Hateley.

Greg Battersbee was a runaway winner in the Novice division as was Monica Massey in the women's veterans as she beat out newcomer Rosalie Hubbard, mother of Bermuda's top cyclist Elliott Hubbard, who was making her race debut.

Matthew Herring was the only finisher in the Category Three juniors.