BRITAIN'S Sean Yates, who is set to retire from professional cycling, proved he is still head and shoulders above local opposition when he beat the field by more than six minutes in a 25 mile time trial at Brighton yesterday.

Yates (36), a former Tour de France stage winner, clocked a course and event record time of 52 minutes 54 seconds.

. Spanish cyclist Jose Antonio Espinosa died yesterday from injuries sustained on Saturday in a collision with a race official. The 26 year old had been in a deep coma since the accident, which occurred during the team time trial section of the Criterium de Fuenlabrada race.