Continental racing is currently high on the early-season agenda for two of the county's rising stars.

Cropston's Dan McLay has just returned from Belgium where he picked up two outstanding wins on the road.

And Cosby's Lucy Garner travels to Holland at the end of the week to take part in two events as part of the Great Britain Talent Team.

McLay has found his road form quickly, posting quickfire wins in kermesses – circuit races – at Koolskamp and Zarren.

They should set him up nicely for the first round of the National Junior road race series in Wales this weekend.

As he might have expected, McLay (Hargroves Cycles) faced some stiff cross winds in Belgium.

"I knew I had to be in the front for part of the race on Saturday," he said.

"I kept following the moves until there was a split of 10 riders. I stayed with that, did my bit on the front and waited for the finish.

"It all paid off and I felt quite comfortable in the sprint."

The wind was not quite so strong the following day but McLay had to contend with an early break of three riders.

"I went across to that and rode with them for a while," said McLay.

"Two more came across but they were dropped. In the end one rider attacked and I had to close that down by myself.

"I did that and, on the last corner, I made a move on the outside. Again, I felt pretty strong.

"I'm really pleased. I won two races at the weekend and that is as many as I won on the road last year."

Garner tackles the Omloop van Strijden, a 52km road race on Saturday, followed 24 hours later by the Wielerronde van Woensdrecht, a criterium – a race staged around a short circuit.

"It is really good racing in Holland," said the 15-year-old, who has past victories on Dutch soil to her name in the Tour of Assen.

"I'll be able to gain experience over there and see how the team works together."

Garner (Leicestershire Road Club) is just coming off a weekend of track training with the Talent Team in Manchester but, with a successful winter in her legs, can make her mark in Holland again.

"I prefer the criteriums," she said. "They have tight corners and are more technical and I like that better than the road races."

CyclePremier.com-Metaltek rider Simon Wilson took his first victory of the year at the Sundorne criterium circuit in Shrewsbury – the county-based outfit's fifth win this season.

"It's nice to get an early win in the season," said Wilson. "I don't think I have ever won a race this early in the year."

Team-mate Andrew Magnier took on some big names at the Roy Thame road race in Bedfordshire and finished third behind former Australian road race champion Darren Lapthorne (Rapha Condor-Sharp ).

Tom Sexton won round one of Welland Valley CC's club championship.

Riders were hampered by the cold weather and a strong win at Medbourne, but Sexton won in 24min 22sec, followed by Peter Watson in 26.47. Ian Waterfield took third in 26.55.

It was a good weekend for Sexton, who also took the second round of the Northants CRA handicaps at Old. He burst through to the front on the last lap and powered away to win in 1.16.39.

Clubmate John Taylor was fifth, with Welland veteran Vic Barnett seventh, both 40 seconds down.