National Cyclo-cross Championships

8-9 January, South of England Showground, Ardingly, West Sussex

Britain’s best cyclo-cross riders are preparing to go head-to-head this weekend with the return of the Cross-National Champs after a year out due to Covid-19.

The event will bring together riders who have gained experience and enjoyed success internationally this season, and those who have concentrated on the domestic scene.

It feels like British cyclo-cross is undergoing a changing of the guard, with five-time national champion Ian Field (Team Spectra) being given a serious run for his money in the National Trophy by young riders such as Corran CarrickAnderson (T-Mo Racing), and talents such as Amira Mellor (Spectra) and Millie Couzens (Crelan-IKO) taking over where Helen Wyman and Nikki Brammeier left off in 2019, so we could well be seeing a brand new name in the red, white and blue stripes this year.

And nobody should write off junior star Zoe Bäckstedt, who will be riding in the U23/senior women’s race.

So far this season there hasn’t been a great deal of mud, and at the time of writing the long-range forecast predicted similar for the Championship, with cold, dry weather setting in down south. That should please a rider such as Bäckstedt, whose big engine helps her excel on the faster courses.

The Ardingly course has featured previously in the National Trophy, but it has been spiced up for the Championship. With fast gravel tracks, difficult ramps, fun downhills and even a bridge, organiser Dougie Fox says it has something for everyone.