Junior world champion Tom Pidcock took his first senior HSBC UK| Cyclo-Cross National Trophy victory in the second round at Abergavenny while Bethany Crumpton made it two wins from two in the women’s event.
The C1 classification event in Abergavenny attracted some notable names with multiple national Italian champion Eva Lechner (Clif Pro Team) taking on the women’s race while Belgium international Jim Aernouts (Telenet Fidea Lions) raced in the men’s.
Pidcock’s win saw him take both the Elite Men and Under-23 crown while Anna Kay took the women’s Under-23 title, with Sean Flynn and Harriet Harnden winning the junior races.
Pidcock pounces for the win
It was Under-23 series leader Billy Harding (PH-Mas/Paul Milnes) who got the fastest start and held pole position through the starting loop, but Aernouts forced the pace on the road, taking Derby champion Ian Field with him.
But Telenet Fidea Lions rider Pidcock soon worked his way to the front, attacking at the end of the second lap after taking advantage of a gap left by Aernouts.
Hargroves-Ridley-Montezuma’s Field remained on the heels of the youngster until Pidcock opened up the gap to more than 30 seconds, holding on for the win.
Field increased his hold on the overall series lead, however, and will remain in yellow for the third round in Shrewsbury on November 11-12.
“It was a good race and there was a lot of corners in the course and I kept forgetting, going around one corner and thinking it was a straight and then there was another corner,” said Pidcock.
“By the end of the race I remembered. The first lap I just took my time as I was hoping to do a little bit more riding before the start as I didn’t do much on the turbo.
“On the second lap I just thought I would take it up. It is good to have this sort of race in Britain and is a step forward for British cross.”
Crumpton continues to dominate
In the women’s event, Crumpton made it two wins on the bounce following a battle with Lechner that lasted the entirety of the race in Wales.
While it was Crumpton who piled on the early pressure, three-time Olympian Lechner was never too far away until the Brit made her move with three laps to go.
Her advantage grew to just shy of 20 seconds, crossing the line first with Lechner second while Kay (EDCO Continental) sealed the final step of the podium – though she topped the Under-23 standings.
“I loved the technical features in the course and to have world level competition is really good to see where I am at,” said Crumpton.
“I attacked into a corner and had a bit more speed so I got that kick, and then I was into the technical sections so knew my lines then.
“I rarely get one win a season so to get two already is pretty good.”
Harnden and Flynn triumph
Harnden (T-MO Racing) won the junior women’s event while Flynn (Edinburgh CC) avoided first lap drama to ride away for a clear victory in the junior men’s equivalent.
The former mountain bike and circuit race national champion led from the second lap and never looked back using his technical ability to great effect on the slippery corners.
Series leader Ben Tulett (Beeline Bicycles RT) had a disastrous start after being brought off on the opening corner and having to chase back from 50 seconds behind after the opening lap.
But that he did and Tulett eventually finished third, behind Flynn and Lewis Askey (Team Backstedt/Hotchillee) in first and second respectively.
Results
Under-23 Men
1 Thomas Pidcock (Telenet Fidea Lions)
2 Billy Harding (PH-MAS Paul Milnes)
3 Joe Williams (PH-MAS Paul Milnes)
Under-23 Women
1 Anna Kay (EDCO Continental)
2 Ffion James (Abergavenny RC)
3 Amira Mellor (PH-MAS Paul Milnes)
Gallery
