In-form Staveley cyclist rubs shoulders with Mark Cavendish and co

Clayton, headline act of the Andy Moore Autocentres/J.E.James Racing team, competed against the legendary Mark Cavendish and a strong line-up from Team Ineos, among others, at the National Championships Road Race in Norwich.

In a highly respectable performance, he finished well up in the peloton, which followed a nerve-jangling and nailbiting win in a midweek race at Mallory Park in Leicestershire.

Clayton spearheaded a three-strong assault by the Moore squad which also included Dean Watson and Aaron Chambers-Smith, and they produced a typically magnificent team effort.

After a busy start to the race, Clayton was instrumental in a move by half a dozen riders at halfway. An eagle-eyed Watson immediately took control of the head of the pack and exercised firm discipline to ensure his teammate was able to take full advantage of his escape plan.

A solo attack by a rival left Clayton with almost 20 seconds to make up. But in a thrilling game of cat and mouse, he launched a fearsome push in the closing laps and slowly reeled in his prey.

At one point, it looked as if he had misjudged the pursuit, but on a power-packed final lap, he got to the wheel of the leader with less than 100m to go.