2006 British Cycling Cyclo-Cross National Championships
Sunday, January 8, 2006; Sutton Park, Birmingham
Larry Hickmott reports
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The second day of the British Cycling National Cyclo-Cross Championships saw a huge crowd witness some of the best racing for a long time as the Men, Women and Juniors raced flat out for the right to be called British Champion. The day began with Helen Wyman (Team Fat Birds UK) dominating the Womens event beating defending champion Louise Robinson (Stourbridge) for the title.
In the Junior race, a cracking race if ever there was one, David Fletcher (Newark Castle CC) was an ecstatic winner beating Stephen Adams (Sherwood CC) and Tom Last (Evans Cycles). The final race saw a very popular win for Discovery professional Roger Hammond who won the three man sprint ahead of Liam Killen (Specialized) and National Trophy winner Jody Crawforth (Evans Cycles).
| Women's Championship |
Above: At the start, Clare Gross is first out of the blocks with team mate Helen Wyman not far behind.
After a long period this winter racing in Belgium, Helen Wyman took full advantage of her good form to dominate her race. The day dawned for Wyman and her team very early as they were pictured riding the circuit, getting to know every corner, rise, hurdle, blade of grass and anything else that would be useful as they prepared for the big race which kicked off after a very exciting under 12 event.
From the time Colin Clews gave them the word to go, Wyman lead the field away and gradually opened up a big gap to the second placed rider Louise Robinson, the defending champion who was also never headed in the race. It was the fight for the bronze medal where the interest lay and early on Gabby Day lead the way from Sue Thomas and Clare Gross with Victoria Wilkinson not far away.
A chase group of three soon formed with a fourth rider, Clare Gross staying in touch with them until the pace started to takes it toll on all of them except for Victoria Wilkinson who started to open a gap on the rest of the field. That was the way the race stayed with Wyman probably the most excited of all the winners on the day as she won her first National Title.
Above: Team Fat Birds UK rider Helen Wyman raises her arms to celebrate long and loud a victory for her first National Championship win.
Above: Victoria Wilkinson (Bronze), Helen Wyman (Gold and Louise Robinson (Silver).
Above: Podium for Amy Thompson who won the Junior title whilst Louise Robinson won the Veterans title from Louise Day and Lynn Bland.
When I caught up with her, she was being interviewed by Cycling.tv and so I asked Louise Robinson (pictured right) standing next to Helen for her reaction to the silver medal.
"Not bad for a girl with a full time job is it" the former World Championship Silver medal winner said to me. Talking about the course, Louise explained "It was good actually, better today being a bit more technical" Overall she went on to add that whilst she was pleased with the Silver, she was also disappointed not to win it again. "You can't win it every year though!" she says.
I then spoke to very excitable young lady, Helen Wyman, who was having the moment of glory she has been working for all winter.
"I'm ecstatic!" Helen said with a smile as wide as her winning margin "It's my first ever national title in anything and it is so good to get it in this. I just can't wait to take it back to Belgium and show it off in all the races I have got left". Helen explained she has been in Belgium since October preparing for the Nationals and the Worlds and doing her best to get experience racing World Cups. "Its been brilliant."
When I said she, like Adrian Timmis the day before in the Veterans, Helen (left, crouching low over the bars as she raced up the start/finish straight) appeared to walk that race - Helen was having none if it saying "No, it was so hard. I caught some tape and crashed and lost about a minute at the same time Louise was putting in a big lap but I managed to hold on. I kept imagining Myriam Melchers was 8 seconds ahead of me like she has been in the last two World Cups, and I was like 'I just got to stay here'."
I asked if now that she has a championship win, has she moved up a level? "I think so" she replied. "My 5th in a World Cup helped my confidence and coming here I knew who my main competitors were. I have been a bit nervous for the last three weeks but today, I just thought - do it - go from the gun and see what happens. And it worked".
Finally, the Worlds is only a few weeks away. Last year didn't go to plan but she knows she has the ability to finish top 10, top five even. How does she think her form is after the title race today? "Good. There is still a little more to squeeze from it so I'm back to Belgium tomorrow and staying there until the Worlds."
I then walked down the road a little to where a fairly pleased Victoria Wilkinson was talking to friends and asked her about the race. She came from behind early on to catch and then drop all her rivals for the bronze medal which was some ride I said to her. "Yeah, it wasn't bad. I have had a bit of a late start to the season after injury. Being here was better than being at home with my feet up!"
Above: Victoria Wilkinson, bronze medal winner.
"Initially I think I got a decent start but lost it a bit in the woods. Helen got a cracking start though and I knew that would be her plan. I started on the second row which makes it a bit harder to get through. It was a good course though, challenging, technical and certainly gave us a good race."
It was however a dissapointing day for one of the favourites Sue Thomas who challenged the riders fighting for the bronze medal early on but was unable to show the form she did in the National Trophy Series which she won.
After the race, Sue said to me, "That was the longest cross race I have ever done...seemed that way anyway! I got a bad chest infection between Christmas & New Year and have been off the bike for 12 days. I made a last minute decision to ride yesterday afternoon as you never know what can happen in these races."
"Plus I would have been kicking myself if I had stayed at home! Better it all happens in the one race" Sue then described her race for me saying "I got up to bronze medal position then had a bad fall, snapping my gear cable outer & giving myself a dead leg in the process!"
And the Worlds? "I am confident I will be back to full form by Worlds in three weeks. I have two races with the men in the next two weekends and some specific training aimed at the nature of the Worlds course. I am not too dissapointed. After a few years of struggling with depression it takes a lot to get me down these days!"
Sue also had some great news by adding "I have just signed a contract with a Spanish UCI registered team, Massi. This is a great move for me and will provide me with the support I need to become a contender at international level. A pro deal with an international team at last after a few tight years has really spurred me on."
"After the 'cross Worlds, I plan a short break followed by a month in Spain training for the three European World Cups and I also plan to successfuly defend my National MTB jersey in July."
Above: With the only riders to be seen being the under 12's, Helen Wyman is going around the circuit with husband Stefan whilst on another part of the course, more members of the team Fat Birds UK team are doing likewise.
| Junior Championship |
This race was of the highest order with three riders dominating it from start to finish - Stephen Adams, David Fletcher and Tom Last - the same three who have made the National Trophy so exciting this season. The winner was David Fletcher but it could have been any of them as they all showed they were not afraid to attack the course and their rivals to try and win the race that meant so much to them.
The pattern of the race was already sorted by the end of the first lap as Stephen Adams came into view a few meters clear of David Fletcher with Jonathon McEvoy chasing just ahead of Tom Last. Over the next lap in the 40 minute race, the two leaders joined together and Tom Last came through on his own in third place where he was to remain for much of the race. After a mechanical, McEvoy took a fresh bike and resumed his challenge to try and get back on par with the leaders.
Whilst Tom Last's two rivals took it in turns to put pressure on each other, Last who is now in the new colours of Evans Cycles, continued his chase right up until the final lap where he finally managed to bridge the gap. It was to be a sprint to decide the race and in it, Fletcher had no equal as Adams could not regain the time he lost when he had a mechanical on the final section and equally Last was unable to stop Fletcher getting away from him after the long chase had taken its toll on his legs.
A very pleased looking David Fletcher (above) was not far away where I spoke to him about his race. "I'm really ecstatic because this is the first proper good win I have had all season and it was a convincing win as well." He then explained that going into the race he went into it hoping for a top three and to come first was well above what he had hoped for. "I'm really pleased with the win."
David then gave us an insight into the final section of the race saying "Halfway through the final section, Stephen Adam's chain came off and got stuck and Tom was just behind Stephen. I looked behind, saw a gap and attacked straight away."
"I had a really good start and was at the front for half a lap and then Stephen and me got a gap. We started working together and then he put in a dig in on the second lap and got away. Then for the next two laps I was just trying to get back on and when I did, it was cat and mouse. Then after Stephen made another attack, Tom got back on and from there I got the win."
Not far away was Tom Last who said of the race "it was hard. I haven't ridden my bike all week and have been ill since I went to Belgium." Asked was he disappointed to be in third after showing so well in the National trophy, he replied, "Yeah, but to be fair, I was up at the end so there wasn't a lot in it."
Finally I talked to Stephen Adams (above) who said of his plan of action for the race "I thought I'd go and try and bust the race and see how it goes. I felt really strong and in control the whole race. On the last lap, I put in an attack through the final section of the woods and got a gap and my chain came off. So I had to grab a tree to keep myself going and shift the chain back on at the same time. David and Tom both got away from me and although I got back to Tom on the finish straight, I just couldn't quite get back to David."
As a final word, he said "I'd just like to say a big thank you to Langdale Lightweights for all their help and support through out the year."
Above: Tom Last closed a 15 second gap to join the leaders late on in the race.
Above: David Fletcher celebrates a great victory in the Junior championship.
Above: Stephen Adams still smiling after a mechanical on the final section of the race cost him time to the rider who had been matching him pedal stroke for pedal stroke through out the race, David Fletcher. Tom Last who has been one of those suffering with the flu, came from behind on the final lap to join the leaders but was unable to challenge them in the sprint.
| Senior & Under 23 Men's Championship |
Looking at the result you could be forgiven that the race was a foregone conclusion when a rider as talented as Roger Hammond wins for the 7th time but this race was anything but a procession with many a highlight throughout the hour long event thanks to riders such as Jody Crawforth (Evans Cycles) and Liam Killeen Specialized).
An unsual site at the start of the race during warmup as the riders in the Ace Racing Team showed off the one off team strip to celebrate Impsports 25th anniversary.
Above: The riders in the near 100 rider field, go under the finish arch to start the race with Crawforth leading the way.
The race began with Crawforth starting as he meant to go on, leading into the first corner at the end of the start/finish straight and then coming round to complete the lap, still on the front ahead of Matt Ellis (Ace TR), Dave Collins (Scott UK), Stephen Roach (SIS-Trek)and Ian Field (SIS-Trek). Both Hammond (Discovery) and Killeen at this stage were still trying to fight there way to the front after having been gridded well down.
As I was walking to another part of the course during lap two, news came over the tanoy that Jody Crawforth had surprised his rivals by 'bunny hopping' the planks and opened up a gap. It was the type of announcement that made the people in the huge crowd take notice and there was a rush for the 'planks' to see if this feat was going to be performed again. These surprises were to be a feature of Crawforth's race where in some of the technical sections, Jody would do all he could to get away but Hammond and Killeen would each time, fight their way back and continue the relentless pace which saw the rest of the field slipping further back as the minutes ticked by.
One of the surprises in the lead group was Ian Field of the SIS/Trek team. Field had shown glimpses of great form during the National Trophy series but here we had three of the very best taking it in turns to attack each other and Field was showing he was equal to the task until a mechanical sent him hurling into a tree and winded, he had to retire from a race where at worst, he may well have won the Under 23 event.
Above: Lap 1, and Jody Crawforth is already at the front of the race where he was to stay until the dying moments of the race.
Above: Roger Hammond leads Jody out of the Quarry with the unfortunate Ian Field hanging on. Ian suffered a mechanical which sent him into a tree and out of the race after showing great form to stay with the likes of Hammond and Crawforth.
Back to the race, and with Field out, his place in the leading break was taken by Simon Richardson but his challenge was also curtailed and he was another of the DNF's. The main chase group, if such a thing existed in a race that was spread out around the whole course, was lead by last years champion Nick Craig (Scott UK) who had Ian Wilkinson (SIS-Trek) for company.
Whilst the chasers were certainly eating up the tarmac on the start/finish straight in a near sprint effort each lap, the leaders weren't hanging about either and were continuing to test each other out, with Crawforth being one of the main cuplrits as he tried to stop the interlopers coming into what has become this season 'his territory' and take away the title he wanted so much. When ever Crawforth came past though, Hammond was never far away and although Killeen may have had to close down gaps from time to time, he too never looked in trouble. This was how it stayed and with the race well and truly nearing its end at the bell, the three leaders were still together. That's the way it stayed despite all the digs Crawforth could muster and in the sprint, Hammond was never going to be beaten although Killeen was not that far from Hammond on the line, no mean feat with Hammond's reputation as a sprinter well known.
Crawforth meanwhile had sat up and accept the bronze, having no answer to Hammond's sprint on the road finish. After a hug from his wife after the sprint and trying to catch his breathe, Hammond came and spoke to me about the race, starting by saying it was hard -- "those guys are pretty skilful and it was quite a technical circuit for me really. I just don't have those sort of skills anymore - I'm not moaning - it just wasn't the type of circuit I had hoped for. So it made it a lot tougher for me even though a national championship is always going to be hard."
Asked if this was one of the toughest of his wins, he replied, "its certainly one of the closest although I was pushed a lot harder a few seasons ago by Matt Ellis at Ipswich. Here it was just one of those races where it was hard to get rid of riders. I could open up a gap on the climbs but there are that many corners on the downhills, I was getting caught every time thanks to their skills. I think its no coincidence that they are both good mountain bikers."
Roger admitted that right up until the sprint, he was nervous and then explained that he has only done three races in Belgium after starting his season in December. He also added that it's a long time since he came to a National Championship over confident about his chances. "This race is one of the hardest races of the year and today was proof of that as it was a very difficult day for me."
After the medals had been presented I then spoke to Jody Crawforth who we have seen a lot of this year and of anybody, certainly from what we saw when the race was passing us at the different stages of the race, Crawforth was certainly a key animator of the event. One that helped make the difference between Hammond dominating it and the exciting race that it became thanks to his efforts and those of the other leaders.
"I tried as hard as I could" he said. "I was struggling a little towards the end because Roger and Liam were riding really fast. On the draggy bits, Roger was putting the power down but then on other parts of the course, I was faster than him."
I couldn't not mention his plank jumping to which he said "they weren't too hard for me to jump and I was quite confident of doing it. I'd get a gap doing it but then I couldn't quite hold it." Jody was then whisked off for a photo so I then spoke to Liam Killeen who is one of England's big hopes for the Commonwealth Games.
"It's quite satisfying" was his first response. "I haven't had the best build up to this race so today was good. It was a bit tricky getting to the front group because Roger and myself were a few rows back at the start so the first few laps were tough but once I made the front, I felt pretty confident. The wooded sections were nice for me as I could have a bit of a breather but I probably didn't plan my last lap that well. I should have come into the hurdles first and tried to lead it through the woods but that's racing".
"I gave it my best shot in the final few hundred yards but Roger has got an awesome sprint and I knew that would be tough."
Finally, I said that he probably had another event on his mind as well … the Commonwealth Games where he exploded onto the international scene with bronze medal in Manchester 2002. "This is all preparation for March 23" he confirmed "where I am going to do my best to get top spot there for England." Our best wishes go to Liam for that big event.
Above: Medals ... Bronze for Jody Crawforth, Gold for Roger Hammond and Silver for Liam Killeen.
Above: Podium for Under 23 with Steven Roach in the Champion's jersey and medals for Ian Legg and Mark Thwaites.
Above: Who needs to get off on the planks! Matthew Roach bunny hops the planks during the race.
Above: After a fast start to the race, a group of four formed with a fifth rider, Simon Richardson not far away. Jody Crawforth leads mid race.
Above: Roger Hammond shows that despite a reduced 'Cross program, he hasn't forgotten the skills that took him all the way to being a Junior World Champion.
Above: Less than a quarter of a lap to go and the pace is on as Jody makes the dash for home...
Above: .. only to find in the sprint, Hammond, no slouch on the road, is too fast and takes his seventh title.
| Race Results |
ELITE MEN
1. Roger Hammond, Discovery Channel
2. Liam Killeen, Team Specialized
3. Jody Crawforth, Evans Cycles RT
4. Ian Wilkinson, S.I.S.- Trek
5. Nick Craig, Scott UK
6. Oli Beckingsale, Giant Racing Team
7. David Collins, Scott UK
8. Philip Spencer, S.I.S - Trek
9. Rob Jebb, Wheelbase/Ron Hill
10. Matt Ellis, Ace RT/Impsport
11. Adrian Timmis, Pinarello RT
12. Steve Knight, MI Racing/EAS/Fuji/Thule/Sports Tours
13. Lewis Craven, Wheelbase/Ron Hill
14. Daniel Duguid, Evans Cycles RT
15. Noel Clough, BikeTraks RT/Ultima Coach Travel
16. Philip Dixon, Cycling 4 Life/Planet X/Jaguar
17. Jim Bryan, Ace RT/Impsport
18. Jamie Newall, Evans Cycles RT
19. Geoff Beetham, Shokwave
20. William Bjergfelt, Team Saracen
21. Daniel Alexander, Ace RT/Impsport
22. Philip Smith, Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Scott
23. Keith Murray, Scott UK
24. Stuart McGhee, Evans Cycles RT
25. Andrew Naylor, Ashfield RC
26. Mark Leyland, Horwich CC
27. James Furniss, Matlock CC/Wards /Impsport/Farmers
28. Stuart Reid, Wheelbase/Ron Hill
29. Lee Shunburne, Matlock CC/Wards /Impsport/Farmers
30. Nathan Miller, Ipswich BC
31. Colin Miller, Coventry RC/Ridecov.co.uk
32. Julian Gould, Ace RT/Impsport
33. Brian Curtis, Team Corridori/Specialized
34. Alan Nixon, Great Britain Fire Service
35. James Fraser-Moodie, Pedal Power RT (SCU)
36. Andy Key, MI Racing/EAS/Thule/Fuji/Sports
37. Martin Eadon, Evans Cycles RT
38. Anthony Morris, Individual Member
39. Phil Blacker, Wyre Forest CRC/Fabricolor/Morval
40. Matthew Spurgin, Evans Cycles RT
41. Robert Hunt, Diss & District CC
42. Alex Forrester, Racing All Terrain Squad
43. Vince Potter, Cleveland Wheelers
44. Jason Hawkins, Coventry RC/Ridecov.co.uk (NC)
45. Dave Starr, Westbury Wheelers
46. Dave Brailsford, Individual Member
47. Carl Thompson, X RT/Elmy Cycles
48. Christian Aucote, Plan B Racing
49. Andy Barnard, MI Racing/EAS/Thule/Fuji/Sports
50. Ben Spurrier, Evans Cycles RT
51. Matt Rigby, Norton Wheelers
52. Chris Atkins, Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Scott
53. Robert Wimble, South Pennine RC
54. Richard Bowen, Gateway RT
55. Neil Stevens, VC Norwich/Fitt Signs
56. Simon Jones, Websters Cycles.co.uk
57. Adrian Dalgleish, Lune RCC
58. Andy Hilton, Army CU
UNDER 23
1. Steven Roach, S.I.S. - Trek
2. Mark Thwaites,
3. Ian Legg, Pacific Racing
4. William Thompson, GB Cycles.co.uk/Geoffrey Butler
5. Lee Williams, CC Abergavenny/Owen/Doleq
6. Anthony O'Boyle, Newport Phoenix CC
7. Euan Adams, Red Kite Cycles
8. Matthew Roach, Rugby Velo
9. Scott Chalmers, Chippenham & District Wheelers
10. Mark Cotton, VC Lincoln/Mr Mortgage/SPS/Listers
11. Robert Whenman, Team Corridori/Specialized
12. Ben Oliver Learhys.co.uk
13. Laurence Seviour, MTS Cycle Sport
WOMEN
1. Helen Wyman, Team FBUK/Fat Birds Don't Fly
2. Louise Robinson (V), Stourbridge CC/Parker
3. Vic Wilkinson, Coventry RC/Ridecov.co.uk (NC)
4. Gabriella Day, Team FBUK/Fat Birds Don't Fly
5. Sue Thomas, Voodoo Cycles.net
6. Clare Gross, Team FBUK/Fat Birds Don't Fly
7. Sophie Johnson, Raleigh/ERV
8. Claire Lines, Gateway RT
9. Louise Day (V), Team FBUK/Fat Birds Don't Fly
10. Amy Thompson (J), GB Cycles.co.uk/Geoffrey Butler
11. Jadine Riley, Individual Member
12. Jennifer Forrester, Racing All Terrain Squad
13. Caroline Wallace, Raleigh/ERV
14. Liz, Tier MI Racing/EAS/Thule/Fuji/Sports Tours
15. Lynn Bland (V), Norton Wheelers
16. Carolyn Wright (V), Horwich CC
17. Chloe Parrington, Loughborough Students CC
JUNIORS
1. David Fletcher, Sherwood Pines/Newark Castle CC
2. Stephen Adams, Sherwood CC
3. Tom Last, Evans Cycles RT (NC)
4. Ross Creber, Evans Cycles RT (NC)
5. Jonathan McEvoy, Kinesis UK
6. Andrew Griffiths, Glendene CC
7. Sion O'Boyle, Newport Phoenix CC
8. Leigh Andrews, Fat Birds Tri Club
9. Sam Webster, Triangle RT/Bianchi
10. Shaun Hurrell, Glendene CC
11. Jamie Harris, Pearce Cycles RT
12. Luke Allen, Racing All Terrain Club
13. David Williams, Individual Member
14. Louis Charity, Team Corridori/Specialized
15. Jack Hibberd, Sandwell CSC
16. Karl Troth, Halesowen A & CC
17. Thomas Hibberd, Sandwell CSC
18. George Bate, Bromsgrove Olympique CC
19. Paul Bramham, Seacroft Wheelers
20. Kurt Warner, Team Darenth
21. Mathew Toplis, Shokwave
CLUB TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP OVERALL
1. Evans Cycles RT, 50
2. Rugby Velo, 49
3. GB Cycles, 48
4. MI Racing, 37
5. VC Deal, 37
6. Science in Sport.com, 27
7. Triangle RT, 25
Abergavenny RC, 24
9. Welland Valley Whs, 20
10. Matlock CC, 19
UNDER 12 NON CHAMPIONSHIP RACE
1. Sam Lowe, Merlin Dev Squad
2. Hugo Robinson, Ipswich Bicycle club
3. Harry Tanfield, Cleveland Whls
4. Lucy Garner, LORC
5. Dan Young, LVYCC
6. Daniel Murphy, Team Keyne
7. Josh Parkin, Team Darenth u10
8. Ben Bailey, Team Keyne
9. Nathan Smyth, LVYCC
10. Emily Kay, HA&CC
11. Joe Fox, Solihull CC
12. Sam Broughton, LORC
13. Jake Poole, VC Lincoln u10
14. Matt Jones, HA&CC
15. Joe Reeves, Redditch R&PCC
16. Nick Barnes, Seacroft WHls
17. Charlie Tanfield, Cleveland Whls u10
18. Gemma Thompson, Hetton Hawkes
19. Jason Dingley, HA&CC
20. Hannah Payton, Stourbridge CC
21. Ted Bate, Bromsgrove Olympic
22. Jake James, HA&CC
23. Charlotte Broughton, LORC u8
24. Gretal Warner, Team Darenth u10
25. Harry Weston, HA&CC u10
26. Grace Garner, LORC u10
27. Beth Crumpton, Redditch R&PCC
28. Luke Selibus, HA&CC u10
29. Olly Kay, HA&CC u10
30. Jordan Buckley, Mid Shrop Whls u10
31. Laura Clode, Sid Valley CC
32. Jack Ravenscroft, HA&CC
33. Andrew McClellan, HA&CC
34. Chris Barnes, Seacroft WHls u10
35. Sophie Capewell, Lichfield CC u8
36. Andrew Clarke, HA&CC
37. Joseph Feiren, HA&CC u8
38. Emily Capewell, Lichfield CC u8
39. Imogen Papworth, HA&CC u8
40. Toby Tanfield, Cleveland Whls u6
41. Amy Selibus, HA&CC u8
42. Katie Poole, Sleaford Whls u6
43. Georgie Toner, Welland Valley u8