Anna Kay, Tom Pidcock and Thomas Mein all built on impressive recent results with strong performances at the fifth round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup series in Koksijde this weekend.

Over 9,000 fans descended on the famous Belgian course to watch riders take on its notorious sand dunes.

Pidcock – who has stepped up to the elite men’s category following his appearance in the category at the 2019 UEC Cyclo-Cross European Championships  – backed up his eighth place in Silvelle, Italy with another top-ten finish, while Kay – European silver medallist at under-23 level – was 12^th in the elite women’s race.

Kay was fourth in the under-23 competition, maintaining her lead in the overall standings  – taking her white leader’s jersey into the next round in Namur (22 December).

Beth Crumpton was the next best placed British rider in 24th as 16-year-old Millie Couzens and Josie Nelson finished 28^th and 38^th overall, impressing with performances that saw them finish as the third and fourth best juniors in a tough elite women’s field.

Hattie Harnden finished 29^th (9^th U23) respectively, and Katie Scott 44^th (17^th U23).

In the under-23 men’s race, Mein followed up his victory at the previous round in Tabor with a fourth-placed finish, maintaining his top-three position in the overall series standings.

Mein looked in contention over the first few laps keeping the leaders in sight, before two leaders made their mark putting distance between themselves and the chasing pack. The Tarteletto-Isorex rider continued his pursuit, and eventually finished just 15 seconds from a podium spot.

Behind him, in his first year at under-23, reigning junior world champion Ben Tulett finished 16^th, Cameron Mason 21^st and Jenson Young 40^th.

The junior men’s race saw a host of Britons finishing in quick succession: Rory McGuire 26^th, Daniel Barnes in 27^th and Corran Carrick-Anderson 28^th. Ben Chilton was slightly further back in 39^th, while Simon Wyllie was unfortunate to suffer a mechanical and did not finish.