Six-time national cyclo-cross champion, Helen Wyman, has told RoadCyclingUK she will make every effort to defend her title tomorrow (8).
In a statement made on her website on Friday (5) Wyman rated her chances of riding in the national championship race at Ipswich as “50/50”.
But in a wide ranging interview, she told RCUK of her intention to race tomorrow if at all possible, despite suffering the effects of a cold worsened by a heavy schedule of racing over Christmas.
“I will make the final decision on Sunday morning. At the moment, as it stands, I think I will be riding.
“I’m ok. I’m not perfect, in fact I’m probably not even good, but when you’re national champion and have been for the last six years, you have to at least try and defend the jersey and that’s why I’m here,” she said.
Wyman paid tribute to a strong line up that will include her fellow British competitors in the UCI World Cup: Nikki Harris and Gabriella Day.
“The other girls riding in Europe have been going well. They have been harder than ever to beat. When it comes to the nationals, they will be as determined as I am. Everything for me has been about the world championships, but I love the national jersey and I really don’t want to give it up without a fight,” she said.
Wyman won her first national title in 2006, after finishing third the year before. After six years in the red, white, and blue stripes, many had mistaken the national champion’s jersey for her team kit, she joked.
“It just means a lot. Every time you put it on, you’re representing the people back in England and saying, ‘we’re good too’. I’ve worn it on world cup podiums, on European podiums; I’ve won races in it. I think I’ve done it proud, but if another girl wins it, then good on them,” she said.
Wyman identified her regular competitors, Day and Harris, among the favourites for Sunday’s race, alongside Annie Last, the dominant force in cross country mountain biking, and ‘hero’ Louise Robinson.
“There’ll be Annie Last, and the girls who race in Europe. They have both had some really good rides this season. I know Louise Robinson is riding. She was amazing in her day and one of my heroes. Hannah Payton is a junior who could have a good ride,” she said.
Competing in America’s cyclo-cross scene, currently experiencing an explosion in popularity, had been a positive experience, she said.
“It was absolutely amazing. They are trying to do everything as well as they can, with equal prize money for men and women in the top three, and in some cases, the top 15. It’s completely equal with the guys,” said Wyman.
Wyman praised the UCI for stipulating that category CI races had women’s events, but said the governing body had missed an opportunity for not insisting on equal prize money for men and women.
