VICKY Peel said she had her "worst race of the season" after only finishing third in the latest round of the Yorkshire Cyclo-Cross Association’s Points Series.

The Hope Factory Rider was fifth after the opening lap of the women’s race at Parkwood Outdoor Centre in Bradford’s Tong Village, 26 seconds behind leader and eventual winner Sophie Thackray (CAMS-Basso).

Peel, from Barnoldswick, had managed to climb up to third by the end of lap two of a frost-hit course that had a testing forest section sandwiched between two meadows.

However, Thackray, second-placed Libby Greatorex and Peel then had lonely races as they finished separated by 67 and 27 seconds respectively.

Peel said: “That was my worst race of the season. I made a bad start and went ‘backwards’ off the line and spent the whole race trying to catch up, which I did a bit.

“So far this season, up until here, starting has been one of my strengths. There are not many ‘hole shots’ that I have missed.

“I was just focusing on not getting caught.”

“No pressure. It is my home race,” laughed Peel.

Meanwhile, Skipton’s Matilda McKibben (Shibden Cycling Club) won the female junior category at Tong Village.