AYR'S Graeme Obree became the first Scot to win the British 50-mile

cycling title yesterday, 24 hours after having smashed the 10-mile

record.

Obree averaged almost 35mph on Saturday in reducing the British

10-mile record by seven seconds to 18min. 27sec. at Reculver in Kent,

and yesterday he took Chris Boardman's 50-mile title at Sandwich. He

clocked 1hr 39min. 1sec. and won by nine minutes, slashing the previous

record by 50 seconds.

The Scot collected a second gold when he led Leo Road Club to the team

award, backed by silver medallist Stuart Dangerfield (1-48-01) and Bill

Moore. The bronze medal went to Pete Longbottom (North Wirral Velo), in

1-48-13.

* UK champion Anthony Stirrat successfully defended his Scottish

one-kilometre title at the national track championships at Meadowbank

Velodrome on Saturday.

Stirrat, who is also the current British 20k champion, clocked 1min.

10.45sec. to take the title ahead of Edinburgh clubmates Scott McWilliam

(1-12.93) and Graeme Herd 1-13.26.

However, Stirrat was unable to make it a double when he was beaten in

the sprint championship by champion Marco Librizzi, with Scott McWilliam

third. Other results:

Junior 3000m Pursuit championship -- 1, N Hall (City of Edinburgh RC)

3min. 57.61sec.; 2, N Walker (Loudon RC) 4-03.32; 3, I Spence

(Carnoustie CC) 4-02.88.

Juvenile 2000m championship -- 1, D MacDonald (Clachnacuddin CC) 2min.

47.76sec.; 2, C Holmes (Nightingale CC)

2-52.93; 3, R Chapman (Musselburgh RC) 2-51.14.

* GREG LeMond, winner of the Tour de France on three occasions, will

miss this year's event. An allergy has weakened the American, forcing

him to pull out of the gruelling three-week race, which starts on

Saturday.

Miguel Indurain, of Spain, who has won the past two Tours, is

favourite to make it three in a row.

* SCOTTISH 25-mile time trial champion David Gibson (GS Modena) added

the national 50-mile title to his list of achievements when in Aberdeen

yesterday he completed the course in 1hr 54min. 06sec. Neil Brown

(Deeside Thistle) was second in 1-55-28.