Onimpex have agreed a deal to become the title sponsor of the 2011 British Cyclo-Cross Championships to be held in Derby on January 8-9.

The company, based in Warrington, import and distribute a range of cycling brands, including Belgian clothing manufacturer Bio Racer.

“We are extremely excited and proud to be associated with the British Cyclo-Cross Championships,”said Onimpex UK managing director Ken Jones

“It’s the first time we have ventured into title sponsorship and we are thrilled that we have been able to ink a deal with a sport so exciting and increasingly popular.”

The explosion in road cycling across Britain and Europe has been mirrored by a huge upsurge in interest in the traditional winter sport of cyclo-cross, with thousands rediscovering the delight of fast off-road thrills.

Jones added: “It’s a spectacular sport. Every day more riders in Britain are taking it up. I’ve been going to Belgium for years to watch.

“It’s fantastic training, exhilarating to see and, although Onimpex and Bio Racer have sponsored individual crossers in the past, we wanted to give more back to a sport that never fails to excite.”