Milton Keynes' Team Corley Cycles - Alpha RC were hoping for at least the same success as they enjoyed in the opening round of the SweetSpot Group organised Tour Series city centre bike racing as the circus moved to Exeter last Thursday evening.

And after a long trip to Devon they were not disappointed with their efforts.

With the opening round of the Series in Milton Keynes having taken place less than two weeks ago, many of the 10 registered teams taking part had started to appreciate that this truly is a team competition and they rode accordingly.

Another one hour's tight, fast and colourful racing around the streets of Exeter saw even bigger crowds packing the circuit, with the holiday location benefiting from families enjoying the Spring Bank Holiday week's break from work.

But for the near 50 strong group of riders this was anything but a holiday.

As is typical of 'crit' racing, the tempo of the race quickly picked up pace as the riders became more familiar with the twists and turns of the nearly square circuit that covered 1.5kms per lap.

Shortly after the last of the three mid-race sprint races had taken place, a split in the bunch of riders was created thanks to the efforts of Team Corley rider Simon Gaywood – the 2003 British Cycling Elite Circuit Race Series champion – and his team mate Matt Higgins.

Around 10 other riders jumped on the back wheels of the Corley pair as they broke away from the crowd, including the current Elite Circuit Racing champion and soon to be event winner Dean Downing.

As the race continued at the more than 28mph average speed recorded by the front runners, Gaywood unfortunately lost his contact with the front group and thus left Higgins fighting for himself.

But Higgins still managed to hold his own in the frantic sprint for the chequered flag, coming home in ninth place overall. He was also the first rider across the finishing line from one of the Tour Series' 'private' teams taking part in the competition.

Gaywood narrowly lost out in the sprint from the next group home, finishing down in 14th.

The Series moves to Woking this evening (Tuesday) and then Peterborough on Thursday night.

The opening stage of the Tour Series around the streets of CMK saw Gaywood clinch an excellent third place finish.

Earlier Higgins had pedalled his way clear of speeding bunch to lead for a whole lap and win the second of the mid-race sprints.