Alex Peters won the first stage of British Cycling's elite road series yesterday (Saturday, April 12) afternoon taking in Derwent reservoir.

The Madison Genesis man beat team-mate, Pete Hawkins, in a close finish to record a time of two hours 53 minutes and 21 seconds and clinch victory on the opening day of the Northumbrian Water Tour of the Reservoir.

Team Rayleigh's Yanto Barker finished third.

Stage one of Saturday's race consisted of a 75 mile uphill circuit starting in Blanchland Village at 1.30pm.

Cyclists completed five gruelling laps of the tough roads around Blanchland and Edmundbyers to compete for selection for today's (Sunday's) closing event.

Riders qualifying for today will battle it out over eight laps (104 miles) of the round the reservoir race route circling Derwent Reservoir.

Cyclists will set off at 10.20am, again from the race headquarters in Blanchland Village, racing at speeds of up to 60mph.