Former Tour de France stage winner Sean Yates has been beaten by a Sussex rider for the first in 23 years.

Alan Curtis, from Peacehaven, was the man to claim the famous scalp when he won the Southborough CC 25-mile time trial at Maresfield in a quick time.

Curtis (In Gear) recorded 52min.7sec while Yates (Team Clean), from Buxted, finished in 53min.18sec.

The last rider from Sussex to beat Yates was Worthing's Nick Lelliott back in 1978.

Yates won the national 25-mile championship two years later and went on to become one of Britain's most successful professional riders.

Curtis said: "I was surprised, I did not realise it was 23 years. It was one of those days when it all came together."

The In Gear club also had reigning Sussex 25-mile champion Steve Elms finish in third place with 54min.21sec. With Dace Pollard clocking 56min.30sec, they won the team prize, as well as the individual event.

Curtis has another chance to capture the headlines on Sunday when he competes in Brighton Excelsior's 25-mile open event at Steyning.

Although Yates isn't riding, there is a special prize for any rider who can beat his course record of 50min.27sec. The field includes former national 25-mile champion Richard Prebble (Team Clean), Graeme Stirzaker (Anglia Sport), John French (Bath CC), Andy Payne (GS Stella), Mike Kingsbury (VC Etoile) and Steve Elms.

The HQ is the Steyning Centre and the first riders starts at 6.30am.

London rider Keith Coffey (Bec CC) added to his Southern Counties 50-mile title by winning the 100-mile championship at Dial Post. Coffey revelled in the heatwave conditions to record 3hr.57min.23sec.

The first Sussex competitor was Worthing Excelsior's Stephen Trott, who was fourth in 4hr.16min.39sec. Andy Payne placed sixth in 4hr.19min.50sec.

The 32-mile senior race at the Goodwood circuit on Sunday was won by Peter Richardson (Farnborough).

Brighton Excelsior riders Lyndon Way and Paul Cook finished third and fifth. Worthing Excelsior's Mike Brampton was seventh.

The 50-mile senior race was won by Glyn Ostler (Blazing Saddles, Rustington). Worthing's Peter Thorp-Hincks finished fourth.