British Cycling has introduced a new, separate national cyclo-cross championships category for under-23 women, which will makes its debut at the 2016 British Cycling National Cyclo-cross Championships in Shrewsbury.
The innovation mirrors changes agreed by the UCI in August which introduced under-23 women as a world championship category with effect from next January’s event in Zolder, Belgium. It had previously been piloted at the 2013 and 2014 European Championships.
The new national championship was proposed by the British Cycling cyclo-cross commission at its recent meeting, and has been endorsed by the British Cycling board. The first championship will take place at Shrewsbury on 10 January 2016, and the published timetable has been amended to accommodate the extra race.
As with the UCI category, the new national championship embraces both the domestic junior and under-23 age bands, a six-year age spread which promises to produce some exciting racing and a showcase for those aspiring to world championship selection in the new category.
