Moutain Bike Series leader, Neil de ste Croix, winner of the first three races of the season, gave up the chance to make it four in a row on Sunday to fulfil his duty as race director – and that left the door wide open for Grant Goudge to pedal to victory.

Goudge, a member of the same Bicycle Works team as de ste Croix, gave that team their fourth consecutive win as he mastered the tough Admiralty Park course.

In the fourth of the eight-race winter series, Goudge put up a strong performance in the open category to leave Winners Edge rider Mark Hatherley over one-and-a-half minutes behind on the new course.

A heavy shower at the start made conditions slippery and added to the excitement. Former professional rider, Graeme Miller of Team Madison, overcame mechanical problems to hold off a much improved Jeff Amaral for the third spot.

Amaral made a bike switch during the race but still managed to finish ahead of Bermuda Bicycle Association president Peter Dunne and Team Madison's Phil Trussell.

The 'B' category saw Dave Collins of the Winners Edge team switch from his cyclo-cross bike to a more standard mountain bike in order to tackle the demanding course. And it paid dividends as he dominated the race from the start, leaving Norbet Meyer to finish second with Ed Jordan of Team Tokio rounding out the top three.

Young Alex Godfrey finished a creditable fourth, sending a warning signal to the others in the B category that he could be one to watch as the season progresses.

The Category B female race was won by Team Tokio's Sarah Jordan. Mark Godrey was the lone rider in the 13-16 boys' group and as such was sent out to race over the senior course.

In the Under-12 category, Daniel Oatley held off the improving Daniel Hetzel to take first place honours. Josh Stephenson placed third and Ryan Day fourth.

Courtney Day finished first in the Girls' Under-12 division.

De ste Croix will be back to race in the fifth event to be held at Hog Bay on January 11.