Bristol mountain bike rider William Bjergfelt (Sport Beans/Wilier) made an immediate impact on his switch to road racing with victory in the first big event of the season.

Last week's snow had put in doubt Sunday's Perf's Pedal Race at Rowlands Castle, Hampshire, and Bjergfelt had been on the verge of accepting a tempting offer to train in the Spanish sunshine.

He told the British Cycling website: "I was very close to cracking and going off to Majorca but I checked the website and it said the race was on.

"The first race of the season is a big one, especially for us southern guys, so I'm over the moon to win such a classic."

Bjergfelt's decisive attack came on the last of the six laps of the 70km VC St Raphael event, held in dry conditions.

At that point, the field of 80 racers had been together, with lone attackers having being brought back by the bunch on a course which had long drags rather than any serious climbs.

Steve Calland (Norwood Paragon) came in second as he won a bunch sprint, and junior Alex Murison (Glendene CC/Bike Trax) took third. Bjergfelt's team-mate Marcin Bialoblocki was fourth.

A top-class field is lined up for the next big event of the season, the Severn Bridge/Felt Bikes Road Race on Sunday, March 1.

The 105km event, which starts at Olveston Sports and Social Club, Old Down, Tockington, at 11am, will be 11 laps of a circuit that takes in the key climb of Old Down Hill.

Cycle Bristol CTC is offering two events on Sunday.

There is a 60-mile outing to Wells, starting at 9.30am at Page Park in Bristol, and a 35-mile ride along the Severn Estuary, starting at 9.30am at the White Swan in Winterbourne.