PAUL Oldham put a nightmare 12 months behind him with a superb success at the Three Peaks Cyclo Cross event over the weekend - and is now gearing up for an assault on the National Trophy Series.

The Hope Factory Racing team star ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in January and had six months off the bike before crashing on his return to action at the national mountain bike championships where he fractured two ribs.

But the 38-year-old has put all that behind him with a flying start to the winter.

Having already won the opening three rounds of the Yorkshire Points Cyclo-cross league Oldham became the first winner other, than this team-mate Rob Jebb or Nick Craig, to win the Three Peaks race in 16 years, with the previous victors finishing in second and third place respectively.

And Oldham was delighted with the result and his form ahead of the national series which begins in Southampton on Sunday, October 11.

He said: “My build up to the Three Peaks had been shocking to be honest.

“It was great to get the result.

“It is a tough race and it is all about fitness. Obviously you are carrying bikes up the mountains and riding down so it was a test for the knee.

“I have had a tough time with the injuries and I wasn’t sure how I was going to get on.

“I have never had such a long period off the bike since I was a out 10-years-old so you are not sure how you are going to react.”

And Oldham admitted his first few races back had been a nervous experience.

“I have been nervous because you are not sure how you are going to get on,” said Oldham.

“I did contemplate retiring a few months back but only for about 10 minutes and then I gave myself a slap.

“It was great to win the Three Peaks and it is on to the trophy series now.

“I have not set any specific aims for that, I think it will be a case of getting through the first one and seeing how I get on.

“The Three Peaks is mainly about fitness whereas I will need more speed to win in the national series so I will see how I go.”

The Three Peaks race takes in Ingleborough, Whernside and Pen-y-Ghent in Yorkshire over a gruelling 61km course.