SCOTT Thwaites sprinted to victory as Oxford made a stunning debut in the Halfords Tour Series last night.

The Endura Racing rider burst out of the leading bunch to edge out Metaltek Scott’s Marcel Six at the end of the one hour race on the 1.4km circuit at St Giles.

It delighted the big crowd, who were treated to a tense finish in the early evening sunshine, while the field included Oxford-based Zappi’s Pro Cycling, who entered as a guest team.

Six got in the early break with Endura’s Dean Windsor, winning the first intermediate sprint.

The pair were reeled in just after the 20-minute mark, forming a leading group of 12 riders who stayed clear for the rest of the race.

Six also claimed the other two intermediate sprints, but despite several attacks the pack stayed together as the clock ran down.

All of the top 12 were in contention for victory heading out of the final corner, but Thwaites, who won the first round of the series in Kirkaldy, Scotland, last week, had enough in reserve to cross the line first.

His teammates Jonathan McEvoy and Windsor also did enough to ensure Endura claimed the team prize.

It saw the 2011 Tour Series runners-up extend their lead in the overall standings after three of the 11 rounds.

Six was the night’s top sprinter, but consistent finishes in the intermediate sprints by Austria’s Bernard Sulzberger saw the Team Raleigh GAC man take the lead in the overall sprint category.