NEWPORT'S George Rose was cursing his luck after a leg problem may have cost him the top prize at the Welsh National Road Race Championships last Sunday.

The 26-year-old sport science student from Cwmbran was alongside Wales'

Commonwealth Games rider Huw Pritchard and three other riders in a break on the third and final lap of the 92-mile course around Snowdonia.

However, he suffered leg cramp, was forced to stop just when ready to mount a challenge for the crown and saw everyone go off into the distance.

But Rose, who was in the Welsh side that competed in the Milk Ras - the Tour of Ireland - a week ago, rubbed his legs a bit and got back on his bike to pass a couple of riders and end the championships in fifth place, with Pritchard crossing the line in four hours 14 minutes to take gold.

He said: "There were five of us going for the win but then I got cramp and had to let them go.

"I don't know if it was a reaction to the heat because it was a very hot day."

And Abergavenny RC's Nick Kenwright had a decent event by finishing 10th. He had also been riding for an American composite side in the Milk Ras last week and said: "People say it takes a fortnight to get over a race like that."

He added: "I came tenth and I was a bit disappointed but the Nationals (National Championships in Newport on June 29) has been a target for me and I'm looking to get my face up there and be competitive."

Cwmcarn Paragon's Chris Sheppard finished 15th place but brother, Paul, could not complete the race. He was suffering from sickness and, after stopping for a second time to be ill, had to withdraw from the contest.

Also, another Cwmcarn Paragon rider, Gareth Pugh, finished in 15th place in the Elite event.

Clubmates Simon Jenkins and David Williams went through the line 17th and 18th respectively in the shorter 62-mile, two-lap secondary race, just ahead of CC Abergavenny's Kerry Graham.