The cyclo-cross season begins in earnest on Sunday with the opening round of British Cycling’s National Trophy Series in Abergavenny.
Defending series champion, Paul Oldham (Hope Racing), national champion, Ian Field, and his Hargroves teammate, Jody Crawforth, a former holder of both titles, will all line up in Monmouthshire to contest a combined senior/under 23 men’s race.
The trio will face a challenge from the Endura Racing stable. Oli Beckingsale, a five-time national mountain bike champion, Ian Wilkinson, and twice under-23 champion, Ian Bibby, the latter members of the Scottish team’s all-conquering road squad, will represent the green and black squad.
The women’s race will see Hannah Payton (Kinesis-Morvelo) begin the defence of her National Trophy Series title. A prodigious talent, Payton also won her second national junior title last season. Adela Carter (Hope Factory Racing), third overall last season, will seek to repeat her start to her 2011/12 campaign, in which she won the opening round.
A notable absence from the 50+ veteran’s start list is defending champion, Jim Bryan, giving rivals the opportunity of a head start in the season-long series. Last year’s runner up, Stephen Davis (Southfork Racing.co.uk) and Ian Wright (Cycle Shack-Forme Coaching), who finished third, will both compete.
The Hargroves team, strongly represented in other categories, notably the senior men’s event, will field Malcolm Cross and Martin Eaden, both of whom finished in the top 10 overall of last year’s series.
Ipswich will hold the next round of the series on Sunday November 4, before the action moves to Southampton a fortnight later.
The December rounds will be held at South Shields on Sunday 2, and at Shrewsbury on Sunday 16, before the final round at Derby on Sunday January 6 2013.
