Cyclo-Cross season is in full sway, with events happening up and down the country and all across the globe. There were numerous races over the weekend of the 2nd and 3rd November, with some amazing performances by British women.
European Cyclo-Cross Championships
The Czech Republic was the scene of the 2013 European Cyclo-Cross Championships, held on Sunday 3rd November.
Traditionally held towards the start of the Cyclo-Cross series, this is a chance to gain the title of European Cyclo-Cross Champion, a title some of the big names in cycling such as Marianne Vos have held.
Particularly of note this year is the addition of a second women’s category. Traditionally, the race categories have featured events for Men’s Under 23, Men’s Junior, and Women’s Elite – with no Men’s Elite category.
This year saw the new Women’s Youth category, for 17 to 22 year olds, with the Women’s Elite now for ages 23 and up. This is part of the European Cycling Union’s plan to grow women’s cycling, particularly for up-and-coming athletes, and is being developed in collaboration with the UCI.
The creation of the Women Youth European Cyclo-Cross Championship symbolizes an important step towards the modernization of cycling, but above all towards the development of Cyclo-cross, a discipline in continuous growth and followed from the very beginning by lots of passionate supporters.
UEC (Union Européene de Cyclisme)
Helen Wyman, who won the title in 2012 and is currently ranked 3rd overall by the UCI was there to defend her European title. She had stiff competition from Nikki Harris, the current British Cyclo-Cross Champion, who placed second in Round Two of the UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup, and is one spot behind Wyman in the UCI rankings in fourth place.
Wyman took the victory, becoming the 2013 European Cyclo-Cross Champion in a tight race with Harris close on her tail, and Lucie Chainel-Lefevre of France in third. Another notable Brit is Gabriella Durrin, coming in 7th place and making it 3 British women in the top ten.
To see the full results for the Women’s Elite race, please visit the UEC’s results page.
In the Women’s Youth category, Anne Kalvenhaar of the Netherlands is the inaugural Women’s Youth European Cyclo-Cross Champion. Coming in second place was Sabrina Stultiens, also of the Netherlands, and Alice Mari Arzuffi of Italy in third place.
To see the full results for the Women’s Youth race, please visit the UEC’s results page.
National Trophy Series – Round 2
Back in the UK and there were numerous races over the weekend, including rounds in the Lincolnshire, Scottish, Welsh and Western Leagues amongst others.
Round two of the British Cycling National Trophy series took place on Sunday 3rd November in Southampton, with Annabel Simpson taking the win, followed by Hannah Payton and Merci Pacios Pujado.
For the full results, visit the British Cycling website.
