South Wales plays host to the second round of the 2017/18 HSBC UK | Cyclo-Cross National Trophy this weekend.
Early series leaders Ian Field and Bethany Crumpton will be in action at the Abergavenny Leisure Centre as Britain’s premier cyclo-cross series continues.
About the series
The HSBC UK | Cyclo-Cross National Trophy is a six-round competition which takes place between October and January, with a rider’s best five scores from the series counting towards their overall total.
The series opened at the Moorways Centre in Derby with defending men’s champion Ian Field picking up the win, while Bethany Crumpton got off to the perfect start in the women’s competition.
The second round takes place at Abergavenny Leisure Centre this weekend before rounds three and four in November at the Shrewsbury Sports Centre and Cyclopark in Gravesend respectively.
Peel Park in Bradford hosts round five in December before the series concludes at Trinity Park in Ipswich on 7 January.
Elite and under-23 men
Ian Field’s defence of his HSBC UK | Cyclo-Cross National Trophy crown got off to a flying start in Derby.
The Hargroves-Ridley-Montezuma rider pipped his 2016/17 rival Yorben Van Tichelt (Era-Circus) to the win on the line.
Van Tichelt doesn’t race in South Wales this weekend, giving Field the chance to extend his early lead.
Neon-Velo Cycling Team’s Jeremy Durrin completed the podium in the opening round and will pose a threat in Abergavenny - as will under-23 race winner Billy Harding (PH-MAS/Paul Milnes/Oldfield ERT), who finished one place behind Durrin.
Phillip Pearce (BW Cycling), Paul Oldham (Hope Factory Racing), Liam Killeen (Malvern Cycle Sport) and David Fletcher (Sherwood Pines Cycles-Forme) are some of the other standout names in a strong line-up - while 2017 junior cyclo-cross world champion Tom Pidcock makes his first appearance in the series at elite and under-23 level.
Elite, under-23 and junior women
Bethany Crumpton (Storey Racing) showed her class in Derby to take a comfortable victory in the opening round of the HSBC UK | Cyclo-Cross National Trophy.
Crumpton finished over 50 seconds ahead of her nearest rival and will look to make it two wins in a row in Abergavenny.
Junior rider Harriet Harnden produced a brilliant ride to finish second at the Moorways Centre - the T-Mo Racing rider pulling clear of the rest of the field to finish behind Crumpton.
A trio of under-23 riders battled it out for the remaining podium place, with Anna Kay (EDCO Continental) taking third ahead of Amira Mellor and Sophie Thackray (both PH-MAS/Paul Milnes/Oldfield) - with all three set to race in South Wales.
2016/17 series winner Hannah Payton finished back in sixth in the competition opener and the Team Kinesis rider will be keen to bounce back this weekend.
Schedule
Youth races take place on Saturday with elite and veteran races taking place on Sunday.
Veteran men begin the action on Sunday at 10am, followed by the junior men at 11am and veteran women at 12pm.
Elite, under-23 and junior women start at 1.30pm, with elite and under-23 men racing at 2.45pm.
How to follow
- Follow @BritishCycling on Twitter for race updates and results
- Report and gallery will appear on the British Cycling website
