Scott Beaumont and Cara Murray will start as favourites when the British Cycling National Four Cross Championships take place at Falmouth on 9 August.

Defending champion Beaumont is odds-on to retain the men’s title while Murray is billed as women’s favourite in the absence of 2013 British and 2014 world champion Katy Curd.

Beaumont is favourite to retain the title having dominated British Cycling MTB Four Cross Series in 2014 with three wins from the three events he has raced.

Challenging Beaumont will be Lewis Lacey, who has challenged the world’s fastest riders in the 4X ProTour and is the man in form.

Nathan Parsons took his first British Cycling MTB Four Cross Series win in Bridgnorth in July and will come into Falmouth on the front foot, as will local rider Will Evans, who won round four of the British series and designed the Falmouth track.

Evans’ course was well-received when it made its debut in the 2013 national series and features pro line doubles, rocks, logs, off cambers and huge berms.

The women’s race will be the most wide-open in recent years. With the absence of four cross world champion Katy Curd, Cara Murray will start the race as the favourite after taking three national wins so far in 2014.

However the rider in form at the moment is Liz Fowler, winning rounds four and five in Bridgnorth.

Heather Kay comes fresh from a podium in the 4X ProTour in Czech Republic while local riders Tyde D’Souza and Megan Wherry will have track knowledge on their side.

Action begins at 1:30pm on Saturday with open practice before the motos begin at 4pm. Heats start at 7pm with the finals taking place at 8:30pm.

Round six of the British Cycling MTB Four Cross Series will follow on Sunday 10 August.