A late tactical gamble helped Welland Valley CC's Vic Barnett to capture a fifth World Masters title.
The Market Harborough veteran successfully defended his over-65s Masters cyclo-cross title despite gruelling conditions in Louisville, Kentucky.
It was his third masters cross success to go with a brace of mountain bike titles.
The riders faced freezing temperatures in the USA and, with sleet falling as they took to the line for the 40-minute race, it was not long before their machines were clogging up with mud on a technical course which had already been battered by a tornado and torrential rain.
The lead changed hands on a number of occasions and, as the medal hopefuls went into the final lap, Barnett, who is president of the Welland Valley club, decided to enter the pits and take a clean bike from his wife, Ann.
Although initially he slipped back off the leading group, Barnett quickly regained contact and put the hammer down to such an extent that the pack splintered in his wake.
He was not immediately aware of that but, as he came into the home straight, a glance over his shoulder showed the challengers had been blown away, leaving the county man able to savour the last few yards before he crossed the finishing line.
American champion Rick Abbott took second place but he was 26 seconds adrift – testimony to the late surge that Barnett put in. Third place went to Canada's Robin Willard, who lost a further six seconds.
"It was so cold all the way around," said Barnett after the race.
"It was really tough. I won last year so it was really good to come here and retain the title."
Grace Garner produced three strong rides in the final Revolution meeting, staged at the new Sir Chris Hoy velodrome in Glasgow.
The RST Racing Team rider has looked good on the boards at the last couple of track meetings and finished fourth overall in the DHL Future Stars competition.
She was just five points off the podium, which was a considerable effort given that the Cosby flyer did not compete in the first round at Manchester in October.
The trip to Glasgow saw the national under-16 pursuit champion take second place in both the six-lap dash and the points race, while she claimed fourth in the scratch race.
Countesthorpe's Charlotte Broughton was consistently in the thick of the action in Glasgow, too, as she finished sixth in the standings – again having not ridden all the rounds.
The MG Decor racer, who is still just 14, was sixth in the dash, completing her winter series with fifth places in both the points and scratch events.
