Gary Dodd wins the second Rubis Jersey Town Criterium

A collision on the first corner of the Jersey Criterium

Several collisions caused both minor injuries and mechanical problems

Gary Dodd came from the back of the leading pack of six to win the men's elite race at the Rubis Jersey Criterium in St Helier on Sunday.

The top Jersey rider on the 1.2 mile circuit was Richard Tanguay, who finished fourth.

In the ladies elite race, Team Zappi's Claire Galloway lapped all her rivals.

There was a podium finish for Jersey's Kim Ashton, while the World Human Powered Vehicle event went to Frenchman Laurant Delcroix.

Continuous light rain began to fall just before the 1700 BST start of the men's elite race, and it helped create some treacherous conditions.

On the first corner of the circuit, there were three major collisions as cyclists lost their grip on the tarmac.

Even the eventual winner, Gary Dodd from the Surrey League Team, nearly came off as he hit a drain along the final straight of the final lap.

Dodd was always in touch near the back of the leading pack of six, but the outcome still surprised him.

Obviously I would have liked first or second, but those girls from Zappi's, they were very strong and very good

Kim Ashton

"I just can't believe it, I thought I'd come fifth or sixth", he told BBC Jersey. "So I thought I had nothing to lose, went for it on the last few corners, got to the front, and that was it."

Jersey professional Richard Tanguay, who has already achieved a Commonwealth Games road race qualifying time, was first local rider home in fourth place.

The ladies elite race saw an extraordinary performance from winner Galloway, who managed to lap the entire field within the opening half of the 40-minute event.

"I knew I had to attack and get away and stay away", she explained. "I took the corners as fast as I could and sprinted out of each one, and just kept pushing until I caught up with them all again."

Galloway's team-mate Leona Anderson was second, and there was a popular home podium finish for Jersey's Kim Ashton from the Caesearan Club.

"I'm just chuffed really, couldn't have asked for more," said Ashton.

"Obviously I would have liked first or second, but those girls from Zappi's, they were very strong and very good, and deserved their places."