The final midweek evening race of three promoted by Cycle Sport South Hams on the Modbury Circuit was one complete adrenaline rush for Jake Durant.
The talented Mid-Devon CC/Colin Lewis Cycles youngster got to the HQ start as the bunch was due to roll out. He had been delayed due to the Totnes Show traffic and taken an alternative route.
Officials held the race for five minutes while he got his bike ready.
Once the flag was dropped for the offical start Marcin Bialoblocki (Sports Beans), jumped away.
Durant (right), already fired up, latched on to his wheel and the pair moved clear of the bunch as the road climbed steadily to California Cross.
Their lead was such that they were soon out of sight as the road twisted and turned towards Kitterford Cross.
On the running ground down to Ermington there was a lot of action from the bunch.
Former national junior champion Peter Johnston (Team Tor 2000) tried his luck along with Durant's team-mate Andrew Hitchens. They were soon joined by Gary Chambers (Cyclelogic), James Smith (Somerset RC), and then Matt Hill (Mid-Devon CC).
With Bialoblocki, the top rider of the 2008 national standings, doing monster turns at the front and Durant pitching in as often as he could the pair had built up a lead of 75 seconds by the time they passed Ermington.
In the bunch, John Locke (Sports Beans), and James Spragg (Trek Marco Polo), were doing their best to bring back the escapees. It was only the work of Smith and Chambers that kept them clear.
It was status quo on lap two apart from the lead pair doubling their lead.
On the final lap, Matt Ewings (Pendragon Sports), took a gamble. With a fine solo effort he bridged the gap to the chasing quintet.
Not content with making contact, he attacked again on the final climb to Modbury.
This effort shipped Peter Johnston from the group and only Hitchens could stay with him. A counter attack near the summit by Hitchens saw him go clear.
At the line Bialoblocki took the win, with Durant acknowledging the work put in by the Polish rider not contesting the sprint.
Finishing more than three minutes later, Hitchens held on for third prize with Chambers winning the sprint for fourth ahead of Ewings.