Great Britain's Max Sciandri of the Linda McCartney Pro Cycling Team is running into his very best form with perfect timing. In his last week of racing before leaving for Sydney and the Olympics, Max turned in a great performance at yesterday's Paris - Brussels classic.

Ciaran Power, seen here at the Giro d'Italia, rode a magnificent race today (48kb)

"I certainly had the legs today," said Max of the epic 250km race across Northern France and Belgium.

Twice, within the last 20kms it looked as though Max had got into winning moves. After his first effort was recaptured by what was left of 200-odd starters, Max went again immediately, in the company of Michele Bartoli, Leon Van Bon, Arven Piziks, Roman Vainsteins and a few other luminares. "I looked around at the group, saw we were all working, and I thought, 'this is it.' I could not believe it when I looked over my shoulder and saw the bunch coming back up to us. There must have only been 10kms to go."

Riding at the front of a race of this quality over the last 50kms is easier said than done, and Max's constant contributions to the action will have done his confidence a power of good. A murmur went round the press room as he smoothly cruised on to Bartoli's wheel that could be translated as, "Sciandri is back to his best."

In the end, it was Bartoli's Mapei sprinter teammate Max Van Heeswijk who rocketed out of the bunch to take the victor's bouquet by around five bike lengths. Linda McCartney's Mirko Puglioli had also survived the mammoth distance and ran in alongside Max.

Ireland's Ciaran Power rode a magnificent race in what was the longest race of this quality that he has ever finished. He rode at the front all day, successfully making every consecutive split in the peloton until exhaustion and the excessive speed from the front eventually put paid to his efforts

Sean Yates on his way to the World Masters Pursuit Title (39kb)

with just 15kms to go. Tailed off by the leaders, he nevertheless finished proudly, and will be delighted with his upturn in form, also nicely timed for Australia.

Sean Yates was extremely pleased with his team's performance, and is looking forward to today's GP Fourmies. Another 1st category race, Max has won here twice in the 90s, and was second behind Dimitri Konyshev twelve months ago.

Sean has double reason to be satisfied, as he was crowned World Masters Pursuit Champion at Manchester Velodrome earlier this week. Famed for his devotion to the bike even in retirement, Sean leapt at the opportunity to trounce the opposition of over 40s to take the gold medal, the rainbow jersey and the world record to boot. There is talk of an attempt on the world hour record now... we've got to talk him into it.

The French fuel blockade had two impacts on the team today. Firstly, protesters held up the convoy of support vehicles as they tried to follow the race across the Belgian border. Frustratingly for Linda McCartney's other Olympian, Bjornar Vestol, this coincided with a puncture, meaning he waited an inordinate amount of time getting a new wheel. A desperate chase saw him eventually regain the peloton, but it split into two, leaving him trapped in the rear half of the race.