Allen breaks his duck

The Team Coventry Cycle Centre rider’s first victory came on Saturday in the Category 2/3 CC Basingstoke event held over 65 miles in Hampshire.

The course featured a steep 25 per cent climb on each of the eight laps and made for tough racing.

As the course slowly wore down the bunch, Allen found himself back with the lead group with two laps to go.

Several riders failed with solo breaks before Allen staged a successful attack on the final climb, 300 metres before the finish, to achieve his first-ever road race win.

Allen followed it up with victory in the Category E/1/2 Meudon Spring Classic in Hampshire on Easter Monday.

Allen missed the initial three-man break but was able to bridge the gap with 12 fellow riders.

The break stayed together until just before the final lap of the 75-mile race when Allen and Ian Knight (Corley Cycles) broke away.

The duo worked well on the final lap to hold a 40-second lead and Allen seized his moment half-way through the 1km uphill finish to gain his second successive win.