The annual race, known locally as Redgrave's mini Tour de France, had the riders amazed to see the number of people out on the roadside cheering them on.

Everyone round the circuit has a list of the riders. On the Knoll Bernie Cresswell kept the crowd entertained with his witty commentary and pleas for advice on his own venture to ride the perimeter of the county of Suffolk in two days for charity.

As the flag fell for the start it was all action as the riders vied for the front as the race headed off into the narrow lanes.

The lead motorbike and a lead car heralded the arrival of the race as the 40-strong bunch of riders sped through the lanes at an average 25 miles an hour.

There were many attempts by riders to break away on the first lap, but they were rapidly hauled back as the field was aware that at the end of the second lap was a prize for first across the line.

Coming up the hill for the end of the second lap Italian Giancarlo Checchi and Robert Hunt from Yaxley managed to steal a 50-yard advantage, and Hunt outsprinted Checchi to take the prize.

On the third lap, previous winner Mark Farrow from Norwich and Cambridge rider Ralph Keeler made repeated attacks and managed to gain 100 yards, but despite the attempts by their two teams to hold back the other riders they were caught halfway into lap four.

The sprint for the prize on lap four was won by Dan Zagni, with Matthew Cook from Thetford in third spot, but as they eased up after the sprint Tim Snook of Ipswich made a classical attack which came to no avail.

As they all came through into the last lap Andrew Knowles from Norfolk and Timothy Heseldine from Stowmarket, were in the lead.