ANDY Robson, from Royal Leamington Spa Cycling Club (RLSCC), took part in the De Haan beach race near Ostend in Belgium.
Robson, from Warwick, represented the club in the 20-mile race along the Belgian coast with the majority of the course on the beach.
And three other riders from the United Kingdom competed alongside Robson in the ‘masters1’ category in their first race of the New Year.
Some 370 riders jostled for position in a single mass start with Robson caught up in a high-speed crash at the beginning of the race.
However, Robson regained his focus and worked his way back into the main pack with the help of a Belgian pairs team.
He briefly joined a group of riders further along the course in a testing second lap.
Robson crossed the finish line in one hour and 20 minutes to finish 12th in his category.
Robson said: “I was just happy to get round in one piece – the soft sand patches and long consistent efforts in crosswinds along the shoreline are about as far as you can get from my usual rides at Newbold Comyn in Leamington.”
