The Sport Beans-Wilier team will be looking forward to what is effectively for them the home leg of the Tour Series in Exeter tonight after an eventful and exciting opening round.

Riders from the 10 best teams in the country were taking part last Thursday and Bristol rider Will Bjergfelt featured prominently early on in the race on a circuit in the centre of Milton Keynes.

But then Bjergfelt suffered a tyre problem and had a heavy fall. He was soon back in the action after a wheel change but then had another tumble – this time caused by a problem with a cleat – after nipping off the front of the bunch.

However, Bjergfelt rejoined the action, which was fast and frantic in front of a crowd-lined route.

Team-mates Billy Joe Whenman, Grant Bayton, Mark Perry and Ben Luckwell all featured well in the race on a course with a couple of very tight turns and which was still a bit wet from an earlier shower.

Sport Beans finished fifth in the team competition, in which the top three riders score.

Team manager Luckwell said: "We were a little bit disappointed with the overall team result but we're hoping to improve in Exeter and over the course of the series."

British road race champion Rob Hayles (Halfords Bikehut) and Graham Briggs (Candi TV-Marshalls Pasta) broke away from the bunch in the closing stages and provided a thrilling finish.

Hayles edged out Briggs, but an appeal saw the positions reversed after it was decided that blocking had taken place.

Tonight's round in Exeter, the second of 10 races nationwide, starts at 7pm although there is plenty of entertainment laid on in the build-up to the main race.

Result: 1 Graham Briggs (Candi TV-Marshalls Pasta) 2 Rob Hayles (Halfords Bikehut) 3 Simon Gaywood (Corley Cycles) 4 Stephen Adams (Plowman Craven-Madison) 5 Malcolm Elliott (Candi TV-Marshalls Pasta) 6 Dean Downing (Rapha Condor) 7 Jason White (cyclingbargains.com) 8 Simon Holt (Candi TV-Marshalls Pasta) 9 Andy Tennant (Halfords Bikehut) 10 Joe Skipper (BMC UK). Selected others: 13 Grant Bayton (Sport Beans-Wilier) 16 Will Bjergfelt (Sport Beans-Wilier) 19 Ben Luckwell (Sport Beans-Wilier) 21 Billy-Joe Whenman (Sport Beans-Wilier) 25 Mark Perry (Sport Beans-Wilier)

Team result: 1 Candi TV-Marshalls Pasta 2 Plowman Craven-Madison 3 Rapha Condor 4 BMC UK 5 Sport Beans-Wilier 6 Sigma Sport 7 Cyclingbargains.com 8 Corley Cycles 9 Halfords Bikehut 10 Endura Racing.

Result: 1 Simon Haward (Severn RC) 21:15 (course record) 2 David Curtis-Whitfield (Felt Racing) 22:20 3 Mark Wilkinson (Severn RC) 22:25 (1st Vet 40+) 4 David Leighton (Severn RC) 22:43 5 Jerry Seymour (Severn RC) 6 David Summers (Bath CC) 23:31 7 Paul Derrick (Severn RC) 23:47 8 (joint) Rob Dixon (Severn RC) 24:14 and Chris Newby (BAD Tri) 24:14 10 Rich Phillips (Day Member) 24:22 1st U18 Freddie Lewton (Newport Oly) 25:32 (course record) 1st Lady Astrid Gibbs (M & D Cycles) 24:36 (course record) 1st Vet 50+ Julian Wilson (LVRC) 25:01 1st Vet 60+ Gordon Lewis (Severn RC) 30:01 (course record)

● To take part in the Evening 10 series, which is held on Wednesdays until August 26 on a course based at the Old Down (Olveston) Sports and Social Club ground. The first rider goes off at 7pm.Entry fee is £2 for club members, £1 for juniors and juveniles (under-18s must provide a signed parental consent form). Non-members are welcome (£3 per ride).

● Riders are invited to to join a medium-pace, 35 to 40-mile ride, which leaves from bike shop Webbs of Warmley at 8.30am on Sunday. For more details, sundaywebbs@yahoo.co.uk.