Kyle Gordon (RT 23) crashed at the halfway point on his way to winning the men’s National 50 Mile Championships.

The 32-year-old, from Alness in North Scotland, was one of many riders who crashed out on a wet Northumberland course before battling through his pain to take victory by a minute and 23 seconds.

It was Gordon’s maiden national title after finishing fifth in last weekend’s national 25 and fourth in the national 10 in August.

The M50 consists of an out and back course north of Newcastle upon Tyne starting at Cramlington when riders were treated to a cross-tailwind towards Amble on the A189 and then A1068.

Riders battled a cross-headwind on the return journey and course had a sting in the tail with a climb past the finish starting with 15 miles to go before looping back down and climbing back up for the actual finish.

The previous day saw heavy rain and despite sunshine greeting riders for the event a mixture of wet roads and drying roads throughout the morning made for treacherous conditions.

Pre-race favourite John Archibald (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling) crashed out early on the course and was one of nine riders that did not finish including Adam Duggleby (Almerico Vive Le Velo).

National 10 Champion Dan Bigham (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling) was one of a host of riders that did not start including last season’s silver medallist Christopher Fennell (The Independent Pedaler- Nopinz).

Gordon crashed at the 25-mile mark when approaching a roundabout, a car ‘shot out’ of a junction forcing him to correct his position and crash into a kerb.

Despite suffering injuries Gordon remounted and recorded a winning time of one hour, 36 minutes and 13 seconds - an average of 31.18 miles per hour.

National 12 Hour and 100 Mile champion, Adam Wild (GS Metro) had to settle for second on this occasion finishing in 1-37-40.

After finishing third in the National 10, Simon Wilson (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling) was in third place again with a time of 1-38-12.

“I pushed it quite well until the first turn and was looking to open up coming back,” said Gordon.

“Luckily I bounced back up after the crash and was straight back onto the bike. I cut my hand and my hip but got back up quickly and a marshal gave me a push.

“The roundabouts were well marshalled and sign posted so the race was safe but the roads were drying up and some were dry and some were wet.”

GS Metro won the team prize with Wild joined by Carl Donaldson (1-42-53) and Tommy Murray (1-45-14) to make a combined time of 5-05-47.

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission.

* A full gallery of images from this event by Kimroy Photography is available here