Cycling deal sorted for Harrison

Harrison Wood’s move to Portugal’s top cycling team SabGal-Anicolor is expected to be confirmed this week.

The 24-year-old Torquay rider has been in talks with the ambitious northern Portuguese squad ever since he left France’s Team Cofidis recently.

SabGal, based south of Porto, compete at UCI Continental level, but they regularly take on WorldTour teams at top-level races.

They have been on an aggressive recruitment spree, signing up several new riders including British youngsters Wood and Mason Hollyman from WorldTour teams Cofidis and Israel-Premier Tech respectively.

Wood has just returned from a winter training and team bonding camp with SabGal.

“It was a good week, with riding mixed up with fun stuff like go-karting and paintballing to help us get to know each other,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to getting more involved with the team in the months ahead.

“As I said recently, I don’t mind dropping down a level if it gives me a chance to get some strong results and hopefully go back up to the WorldTour.”

Cycling’s professional transfer market is becoming an increasingly brutal business each year and, even though he finished 66th in his debut Giro d’Italia and delivered several other impressive results, it was not enough to earn Wood a third year at Cofidis.

The Mid-Devon CC has welcomed back Cathy Kilburn, Robin Delve and Jackie Shute after they gave strong performances at the World Masters Cyclo-Cross Championships near Hamburg.

Kilburn earned a podium spot with third place in the Women’s Over-60 class, former champion Delve was fifth in the Men’s Over-65s and debutante Shute finished 7th in her Over-50 category.

All three returned in time for the latest round of the SW League, over a technical and hilly course at the Exeter Bike Park on Sunday.

There were wins for Kilburn, Delve, Lauren Fox, James Allen and Eva Fox.

Other results: U10 – 6 George Bleloch; U12 – 3 Freddie Simcock, 11 Will Cook, 12 Henry Hatton; U14 – 5 Oliver Gray. 6 Thomas Bleloch; U16 – 2 Meryn Kitching, 3 Sam Gray; Junior Women – 3 Lara Dix; Vets O/50 Women – 3 Jackie Shute, 6 Nick Quant, Men – 3 James Bovey, 19 Martin Smith.