THE new cycling season for Leigh Premier Road Club members is now well underway, with many members having already started their 2007 campaigns.

The North West Reycycling League series of road races began with Leigh Premier riders Mark and Nathan Turnbull featuring in a windswept event, on a course at Saighton near Chester.

Mark finished in ninth place, while younger brother Nathan finished 21st.

The previous weekend Nathan took part in the Mersey 2 day road race over three stages, which is part of the National Premier Calendar series of races and includes the top professional clubs and National squads.

Nathan acquitted himself well, finishing 48th overall after the three stages. He also had the distinction of featuring in the Eurosport television coverage of the event.

In the second of the North West Recycling League series on an 83km course at Lindale, Mark improved to take fourth place with Nathan finishing 23rd. ark was the overall winner of the Recycling League series in 2004 and 2005.

Three Leigh Premier riders took part in the Cheshire Cat 96 mile Sportive ride, starting and finishing in Knutsford.

Riders first went out over the climbs around Kelsall and Delamere before dipping south to Beeston Castle. Then, after 70 miles they had to climb the savage 1 in 4 hill at Mow Cop, which reduced many riders to walking. Finally the route took them over the climb of Bosley Cloud near Congleton, before a welcome tail wind run back to Knutsford. Competitors were allowed up to 10 hours to finish the course.

Of the Leigh Premier contingent, Carl Johnston was fastest, completing the course in around 5 hours 30min, and Simon Lowndes and Bill Fairhurst finished around the 6hour 45min mark.

Carl is currently training for the ultimate Sportive ride, when in July, he will be taking part in the Etape du Tour in France, which is a ride over one of the most mountainous stages that will be a part of the Tour de France a few days later. This year's Etape is considered to be one of the toughest ever, as it will cover around 120 miles over five huge mountain passes in the Pyrenees.

On the time trial scene, Carl combined with Darren Topping in the Nova Cycling Club 25 mile two-up team time trial near Knutsford, recording a time of 1h 3m 43s.