AFTER six weeks of the 2001 cycling season Fraser Snape, of Read, is undisputed leader of the Edisford time-trial league having scored 59 points from a possible 60.

He was winner of last week's event with a time of 18mins 45secs for the 7.7 miles and was followed home by Accrington's Ken Holden (20.10), who is second in the league table with 47 points.

Recent recruit to the promoting North Lancs Road Club, Peter Taylor of Langho, was third last week with 20 mins 52secs and Clayton Velo's Peter Briscoe was just one second slower in fourth.

Snape continued his run of form by claiming a fine second place in a 25-mile event in Cheshire with a 57.03 ride on a difficult course.

At Thornton-in-Craven the Pendle Forest club were promoting a 10-mile event on a new course based on the Skipton Road, where Dave Metcalfe of Barnoldswick and Clayton Velo turned in the fastest ride with 24mins 16secs beating near neighbour Jonathan Boothman, who rides for the promoting club and returned 24mins 34secs.

Simon Phillips, of Pendle Forest, filled third slot with 24.47 and Martin Brass, of Clayton Velo, was fourth in 25.31.

Tuesday evening's Rossendale Road Club 9.4-mile event at Accrington was won by Blackburn's Bill Rodgers, who rides for the promoting club, in a fast time of 22 minutes exactly, beating Darwen's Dave Edwards of Blackburn and District CTC (22.35).

Peter Agnew, of Rawtenstall, and Paul Warrener, of Waterfoot, took third and fourth places with 24.42 and 24.58, respectively.

Winner Rodgers scored another success in the Pendle Forest Criteriums at Lancaster when he won the fourth category event.

The Wednesday Track League at the Kirkby Stadium was washed out for the second week running leaving the Blackburn and District CTC squad with a blank evening.

THE excellent multi-sports facility at the recently opened Preston Arena includes a superb one mile tarmac cycle racing circuit which will be used officially for the first time on Saturday for a RTTC time trial.

The Ribble Valley Cycling Racing Club will be promoting the North West Final of the George Herbert Stancer eight mile event for schoolchildren and two East Lancs youngsters will be amongs the 15 entries.

Rebecca Wilkinson, aged 14 of Barnoldswick who rides for the Nelson Wheelers Club, has already a 26 minutes 10 mile performance to her name and 14-year-old Rob Greenwood, of Simonstone and the North Lancashire Road Club, will be there for the event which starts at 10am.

Also on the Preston Sports Arena, but next Wednesday evening, the North Lancashire Road Club promote events for all 40 plus riders under LVRC rules. Organiser Dave Hargreaves had originally planned the event on the Bashall Eaves course but local foot and mouth problems have forced a change to the closed circuit.

A strong team of Clayton Velo riders are entered as well as Hargreaves himself who only last weekend claimed a well deserved first place in his age group in an LVRC race at Barnsley.

The action starts on Wednesday at 6.30pm.

NEXT week has been designated the 2001 Festival of Cycling with hundreds of cycling related events being held across the country.

Locally the festival will be off to a flying start when the Burnley Cyclists Picnic will be held in and around Towneley Park.

Take your bike along for a full programme of cycling-related activities which will be on offer from 11am this Saturday. By DAVE BROWN Cycling correspondent