The 2016/17 British Cycling National Trophy Cyclo-cross Series gets under way in Derby on Sunday 9 October – with reigning elite champions Ian Field and Hannah Payton set to kick-off the defence of their titles.
The Moorways Centre in Derby hosts the first of five rounds in this season’s series, before the competition moves to Abergavenny later in October, Hetton Lyons and Ipswich in November followed by the final round in Shrewsbury in December.
Elite and under-23 men
Ian Field begins his battle to retain the British Cycling National Trophy Cyclo-cross Series in good form following back-to-back rounds of the Telenet UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in the USA, finishing 24th in the CrossVegas season opener before taking 11th at Jingle Cross in Iowa City.
The Hargrove Cycles – Ridley RT rider won all of the series races he competed in during last season’s competition, including the round at Derby, and is the red-hot favourite again this year.
Perhaps his main opposition comes from Liam Killeen, the current British Cycling National Cyclo-cross champion.
Representing Malvern Cycles, Killeen won the last two major cyclo-cross races on British soil earlier this year; crossing the line first in the National Trophy season closer before winning the national title in Shrewsbury in January.
A strong field will take to the start line in Derby, with David Fletcher and Paul Oldham among those who will be challenging for honours.
Fletcher, of Sherwood Pines Cycles Felt – Enve, finished second in last season’s series, just pipping Oldham (Hope Factory Racing) to the runners-up spot.
Senior and junior women
Representing Team Kinesis UK, Hannah Payton dominated the 2015/16 British Cycling National Trophy Cyclo-cross Series, reaching the podium in four of the five races she entered.
That included a win in last season’s round at Derby and Payton will be considered the one to beat in this season’s opener.
The 22-year-old’s chances this weekend will be boosted by the absence of some of her major rivals for the National Trophy – with all but one of the other riders to pick up victories in last year’s competition absent for round one.
Evie Richards, who took victories in round four in Ipswich and round five in Bradford and Sophie Wright, winner in the final round in Milton Keynes, will miss out on the race in Derby – as will Amira Mellor, who finished third in last year’s competition.
But Bethany Crumpton, who topped the podium in round three in Durham last year, will take to the start line, representing Boot Out Breast Cancer CC - and will be among the major contenders.
The absences present an opportunity for a number of talented riders to chase a place on the podium in Derby. Annabel Simpson (Hope Factory Racing) finished fourth overall last year, beginning her campaign with second place in round one in Southampton and she will look to go one better this season.
Ffion James (Abergavenny RC) also has a second place to her name in last season’s competition, finishing as runner-up in round six in Milton Keynes while Adela Carter (Hope Factory Racing) will look to improve on last season’s series-best of third place in Southampton.
Junior men
Tom Pidcock was sensational in last season’s National Trophy, winning four races in a row on his way to the title.
The first of the Oldfield/Paul Milnes Cycles ERT rider’s wins came at Derby and Pidcock will be the young man to beat once again this season.
His closest rival in last year’s competition was Mark Donovan, who will take to the start line in Derby in Wheelbase Altura MGD colours.
Donovan reached the podium four times in last season’s series, winning in round six in Milton Keynes, and will be well-placed to challenge Pidcock once more.
Ben Turner was third in the overall standings last season and the HMT with JLT Condor rider will be hopeful of getting back on the podium at the end of the competition in January.
Venue
Derby’s Moorways Stadium is a staple on the domestic scene, the spectator-friendly venue having hosted the national championships and numerous National Trophy events.
Event schedule
Race one
10:15am: Veteran men 40-49
10:16am: Veteran men 50+
Race two
11:15am: Under-16 girls
11:16am: Under 14 girls
Race three
12:05pm: Under-16 boys
12:06pm: Under-14 boys
Race four
1:30pm: Junior men
1:31pm: Senior and junior women
1:32pm: Veteran women
Race five
2:45pm: Elite and under-23 men
How to follow the racing
- A report, result, reaction and images will appear on the British Cycling website
- Follow @BritishCycling on Twitter for updates
