Bradford Hosts First National Cycling Championships of 2009

National Cyclo-Cross Championships

10-11 Jan 2008, Peel Park, Bradford

Promoted By: Yorkshire Cyclo-Cross Association
Race Organiser: Mr John Rawnsley

TIMETABLE OF EVENTS & START LISTS

EVENT OVERVIEW

Bradford's Peel Park is to play host to the National Cyclo-Cross Championships over the weekend of 10 and 11 January 2009. Organised by the Yorkshire Cyclo-Cross Association, backed by Bradford City Council, the event will see national titles awarded in seven categories, ranging from Youth (under-16) to Veteran (40 and over).

The National Championships is the biggest and most prestigious event and the climax of the domestic racing calendar. Saturday's competition focuses on the Youth and Veteran categories. Sunday see the Juniors (17-18 year olds) in action before the blue riband senior women and senior men's events, which wrap up the championships.

The Peel Park venue successfully hosted a round of the 2007-8 National Cyclo-Cross series in December 2007, clearing the way for the senior championships to return to Yorkshire for the first time in 35 years.

The course is based on that used for the 2007 National Trophy event. Centering on a banking, topped with a wide roadway, the course loops out on both sides, taking in some slick tarmac sections, draggy grassland, more technical and cambered sections and some tough run-ups, which are set to be even tougher for the championships.

The event will be free for spectators.

RACE PREVIEWS

We have a look at the form guide as the big event approaches:

Sam Harrison in full flight

Junior Men
The obvious name to watch out for is the National Series leader, Dan McLay, who has not been lower than fourth in the series and has been much the most consistent rider all season long. And he's still churning out the results and won at the venue as a Youth last season. However, a win and two seconds in the last two rounds makes Welsh rider Sam Harrison a strong contender too, whilst David Nichols produced a stunning win at Rutland before Christmas. There's also a trio of local first year Juniors, Paul Young, Tom Moses and Oli Webster, who will have the partisan Bradford crowd behind them. They can't be ignored and expect at least one of them to have a blinder on what will prove a very testing course, with more running and climbing than in the National Trophy so far this season.

Medal Predictions

1. Harrison
2. McLay
3. Moses

Youth
The Youth boy's race should be a classic. Josh Papworth and Max Sykes have been pretty much inseparable on the top two steps of the National Trophy podium and are locked on the same number of points. On form, one or other should win it, but only after a close battle - and if they don't, Alistair Slater is the only other rider to have come close to their consistency at national level this season. You could also add in Hugo Robinson, who won the fourth round, as a wild card. The Youth Girls race should go to Lucy Garner - she's unbeaten in the four National races she's finished this season. However, the other podium spots are up for grabs, with Hannah Payton, Bethany Crumpton and Amy Roberts all enjoying good seasons. Throw in local girl Hannah Shenton, who was second in Rutland, as your wild card in this category.

Medal Predictions:
1. Papworth or Sykes
2. Papworth or Sykes
3. Slater

1. Garner
2. Shenton
3. Payton

Veteran Men

Noel Clough leads Geoff Giddings at the Devon round of the national series

The Veterans' race should be one of the highlights of the first day. This category has produced some of the most explosive and unpredictable racing of this season. Geoff Giddins will begin as a narrow favourite, based on massive consistency over the last few seasons. He leads the National Series once again and won at Peel Park in last season's National Trophy event. However, he won't have it all his own way. Local hero Chris Young will want to win badly and, as long as he's thrown off his pre-Christmas cold, he ought to be in the mix. He's a former winner of the title and has two seconds and a win to his credit in the last two national series events. Also sure to be in with a shout is Noel Clough, another relative "local". Noel won the opening round of the National Trophy and could easily have been leading the series had not bad luck dogged him. A mechanical in the closing stages of the Mallory event cost him a win and was just one of a series of problems this year. Noel was second at Peel Park last season, claims he's in the best form of his life and is certainly due that bit of good luck you often need to win the big ones. Of the others, Phil Roach has hit form in the second half of the season and could easily make the podium. With Matt Denby sidelined with a broken leg and last year's winner, Steve Knight, not entered, Giddings, Young, Clough and Roach ought to decide the medals.

Medal Prediction
1. Clough
2. Giddings
3. Young

Under-23 Men

David Fletcher in action at Peel Park in 2007

This is one of the hardest categories to call. On paper, Scott Thwaites ought to be favourite. He's local, he tops the national series in this category and he's a class act off-road. However, in this category more than any other, there are contenders amongst the field who have hardly ridden at national level this year. Jonny McEvoy made his first appearance at Rutland and duly blitzed the under-23 field. And the elder Thwaites brother, Mark has hardly raced in the UK this season and could easily figure. Throw into the mix the consistent Anthony O'Boyle, local star Tim Baldwin and classy GB mountain biker Dave Fletcher and you have the makings of an unpredictable and very exciting race.

Prediction:
1. Fletcher
2. S. Thwaites
3. M. Thwaites

Women

Annie Last - can she threaten Wyman's grip on the title?

The Women's race ought to be a simple call, with multiple champion and World Cup regular Helen Wyman a very strong favourite. However, Helen's form has dipped in recent weeks and maybe she'll be feeling a bit more pressure than usual on the start line. Suzanne Clarke has had a great season and will not be afraid of Bradford's mud and hilly terrain. Gariella Day, like Wyman, is perhaps not in the form she was in earlier in the season, but with two wins and two thirds in the national series, she should once again be a leading contender.

The less predictable factors in the race include Annie Last, who has only ridden sporadically this season, but who has looked very good when she has competed, with a win and a second to her credit in the National Series. She also knows the Peel Park course well and won there last season. Isla Rowntree will once again be looking to add to her medal collection and the tough course and muddy conditions should suit her and she could easily medal. And watch out for Belgium-based Nikki Harris who has been turning in some very impressive results in recent weeks.

Medal Prediction:
1. Wyman
2. Last
3. Clarke

Senior Men
Perhaps the most mouth-watering event of all. The senior men's' race is traditionally the blue riband race of the nationals weekend. And for all the Roger Hammond has dominated the last 10 years or so, he's rarely had any of the races he's won all his own way and, as Phil Dixon showed in the Southampton mud two years ago, Roger is far from unbeatable if conditions get a bit claggy. But, for his consistency and ability to turn winning chances into chances taken, he will once again start as a strong favourite for many.

One man who has found Hammond blocking his ambitions in recent years is Liam Killeen. Never a National Trophy regular, Liam has three runner-up spots to his credit in the National Championships. In 2008 he was locked in an epic battle with Hammond for much of the race, only to lose out in the sprint. 2006 was a similar story with a similar outcome. And in 2005 Killeen was blocked by Nick Craig, who revelled in the muddy conditions. Will 2009 be Killeen's year? He's got the ability, but as usual he's had precious few races to build up to the championships. Whatever the outcome, his presence and that of Hammond, adds a little extra class to the event.

Ian Bibby - in great form going into the championships

Looking at the National Series, this year's strong men have been Paul Oldham, Jody Crawforth and Ian Field. They've taken all but one of the top three home based riders' slots in the five events to date and shared the wins between them. On that form, they join Killeen and Hammond in the first rank of favourites.

Looking beyond them, there are three riders who have the class and the ability to break into the medals. First up is Nick Craig. Although pushing 40, the course should suit him more than anyone, especially if there's some rain before or during the event. Craig is a legend in the mud and has all the know-how in the world. Second is Rob Jebb, no longer labelled a Three-Peaks specialist, with several seasons of consistent National standard riding behind him. And, although he's only won once at National level, it was at Peel Park, two years ago. Watch him on the run-ups in particular - there's probably never been a better runner with a bike! Finally, Ian Bibby, is worth a punt. Like Killeen, mountain biking is his main priority and he doesn't race a full 'Cross season. But he's a superb all-round rider and fifth at Rutland and recent wins at the Macclesfield Supacross (where he beat both Craig and Killeen) and North of England Championships, suggest he can't be discounted.

Medal Prediction:
1. Killeen
2. Oldham
3. Jebb

Course Map

Course Map

Accommodation

The organisers are recommending the following hotels, all of which are conveniently located for the event:

Cedar Court Hotel: £65 for double/twin and £55 for a single, with full English breakfast - www.cedarcourthotels.co.uk

 

Guide Post Hotel: £65 for double/twin and £60 for a single, with full English breakfast - www.guideposthotel.net

Etap Hotel: £32 for double and single in same room, car parking £3, Continental breakfast extra: www.etaphotel.com

Links

Previous events at Peel Park: 2006 National Trophy | 2007 National Trophy