Elliott, in the area last week for the Kettering stage of the Halfords Tour Series, took time out before the race to be reacquainted with the bike that won him six stages of the Milk Race in 1982 as well as the road race at the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane in the same year.

The bike had been specially made for him by MB Cycles of Dronfield.

The 48-year-old, who races for the Motorpoint pro-cycling team throughout the UK and Europe, was an amateur at the time, before turning professional in 1983.

The new owner, 75-year-old John Stone, bought the bike over a decade ago. However John, who rides with the Rockingham Forest Wheelers, has only ridden it a handful of times since then, preferring instead to keep it in his house as part of his cycling memorabilia.

John said: "I have been interested in cycling since an early age, and when the opportunity arose a few years to buy Malcolm's winning bike I leapt at the opportunity.

"I've never had the chance to reunite the bike with its previous owner until now but it was well worth it looking at the reaction on his face when he saw it in Kettering."

Elliott added: "I couldn't believe it when I saw my old bike. It brought back some wonderful memories for me, especially of my time in the Milk Race and later that year when I won in the Commonwealth Games.

"The funny thing was that when I showed it to some of the younger members of the Motorpoint team they couldn't believe I rode, let alone won, races on it. They don't realise just how lucky they are today."

For more information on the Motorpoint pro-cycling team visit www.motorpointprocycling.com