A peerless Tom Pidcock claimed his first elite national cyclo-cross title as Nikki Brammeier won her fourth at the HSBC UK | National Cyclo-cross Championships at Kent’s Cyclopark today.

Pidcock (TP Racing) was utterly dominant in the men’s race, taking the lead on the second lap and consistently putting time into the field over the remainder of the race, eventually crossing the line over a minute clear.

Ben Turner (Corendon Circus) took silver, with Thomas Mein (Tarteletto-Isorex) in third place. Five-time champion Ian Field (Neon-Velo Cycling Team) finished fourth.

Pidcock said afterwards:

“The national championships is always one of the goals of my season, and it’s nice knowing I’ve got the elite jersey to wear in every race I do next season. The world championships (February 2-3) and the two world cups over the next two weekends are the main goals now.”

Brammeier (MUDIIITA) regained the women’s title she last won in 2017 after an enthralling tussle with Anna Kay (Experza-Footlogix) was prematurely ended when the unfortunate Kay suffered a mechanical on the penultimate lap.

Brammeier was able to ease away from the field as Kay was forced to take to her feet and change bikes when she eventually reached the pits. The youngster then found herself in a battle with Helen Wyman, showing impressive technical riding to claim the silver medal ahead of the ten-time national champion.

After the race, Brammeier said:

“I’m so happy – I really wanted this. Last year I lost out to Helen after a really good race, and today it was a really tough battle with Anna. I was attacking as she got the mechanical, so it was rubbish for her, but she was so strong today – it’s good to see what the future looks like.”

Medals were awarded to the top three under-23 riders in both elite races, with Kay, Ffion James (Storey Racing) and Sophie Thackray (PH-Mas/Paul Milnes Cycles) taking the women’s honours. The men’s race saw the elite podium of Pidcock, Turner and Mein replicated at under-23 level.

Earlier on in the day, the junior races were contested, and saw women’s champion Harriet Harnden defend her title and world champion Ben Tulett produce a dominant display to win the men’s crown.

Harnden (T-Mo Racing) was able to outsprint second-placed Anna Flynn (Edinburgh RC) into the finish line after the two had been virtually inseparable throughout the race. Maddie Wadsworth (Beeline Bicycles RT), who led through the early part of the race, claimed bronze.

Harnden said after the race:

“It feels amazing. I just had to give it my all. It’s such a fast course so I wasn’t expecting to get away, and I knew Anna was really strong, so I tried to identify the little bits where I could get away, and tried to play those little gaps to my advantage.”

Riding in the rainbow bands, Tulett (IKO-Beobank) was a convincing winner in the men’s race, finishing over a minute ahead of Lewis Askey (Zannata) who took silver. Jenson Young (Oldfield/Paul Milnes Cycles ERT) beat Oliver Draffan (Team Darenth) in the battle for bronze.

Afterwards, Tulett said:

“It went how I planned it. I knew it was going to be quite a tactical race today, so it was a big risk going out so early on, but it’s paid off so I’m really happy with it.”

Yesterday’s racing saw Zoe Backstedt (Storey Racing) and Corran Carrick-Anderson (Peebles CC) take the under-16 titles, while Libby Bell (Leicester Forest CC) and Max Greensill (Rapid Racer Products) were crowned national under-14 champions.

The veterans’ categories were also contested, and full results from across the weekend are available here. 

The full day can be watched back here.