National Trophy, Round 1, Derby
by Cyclocross Handbook ·
The National Trophy series brings together the best riders from all the regional series’ throughout the country for five rounds of high quality British cross. At the Derby round, several riders from Belgium joined the cream of the UK riders adding another twist. Conditions were dry and very fast which made for excellent racing throughout the day and set the scene for a great series to come. The pictures and captions take up the story.
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British Champ, Nick Craig amongst a very strong field of V40s in the first race of the day. -
The Vets get away. -
Almost straight away, it was Kris Lapere who led the field, building a gap of around 20 seconds. -
The bridge is a new feature at the Derby National Trophy this year and gets two thumbs up from Cyclocross Handbook. Except for a sponsor banner which meant I couldn't take any proper pictures of it from the front. -
The Vet 50 race was much more tightly contested, Chris Young and Pete Middleton fighting it out from a small group behind. -
Kris Lapere still leading the V40's... -
...ahead of a big group containing Nick Craig, Rob Jebb and James Bryan and others. -
Chris Young and Pete Middleton still leading V50... -
...Richard Cross on his own in third. -
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The gap to that big gap started to come down in the closing laps. -
Conditions were extremely fast, and led to big groups forming. -
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One it was clear the big group wasn't going to get back, they started concentrating on each other, allowing Kris Lapere to stay away for the V40 lead. -
Chris Young took the V50 win. -
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Harriet Harndon took the U16 Girls' race. -
Ben Tulett was way clear and seemed to be on his way to the U16 Boys' win... -
...then this happened a long way from the pits. Ruining his race. -
This allowed Max Rushby to take the win. -
Cross Dogs 63 and 64. -
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Tom Pidcock comes to the line for the Junior Men's race. -
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Junior Men get away. -
Followed a minute or two later by the Elite Women. -
Tom Pidcock attacked early on the second lap... -
...and was going very quickly... -
...leaving Thomas Mein and Mark Donovan to fight it out for second. -
The Elite Womens' race was much closer. Hannah Payton, Beth Crumpton and Annie Simpson all together. -
The Vet Womens' race was tightly contested too. -
Tom Pidcock still leading the Junior Men. -
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Hannah Payton putting in another turn at the head of the three woman lead group. The fast conditions made timing an attack critical. -
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Maddi Smith attacked the Vet Women's field with a couple of laps to go... -
...but was brought back by the group. Isla Rowntree looked strong all race, and was able to attack in the closing stages to take the Vet Womens win. -
The lead three Elite Women, still stuck together. -
Tom Pidcock comfortably won the Junior men... -
...from Thomas Mein... -
...and Mark Donovan. -
On the penultimate lap of the Elite Women's race, Hannah Payton put the power down, pulling away from Annie Simpson... -
...and dropping Beth Crumpton. -
Team Kinesis UK's Hannah Payton taking the win of the Derby National Trophy. -
Yorben Van Tichelt... -
...and Angelo De Clercq of the Marlux team made the trip from Belgium, in vans with their pictures on them. -
The field altogether on the first lap. -
Before long though, Van Tichelt and Ian Field had gone clear... -
...of a peloton headed by Jack Clarkson. -
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Remember that Bpost race a few years back where Stybar stuffed someone into the barriers in a sprint? Well that was, and this is, Jan Denuwelaere attempting to bridge over to the leaders. -
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Uh-oh. -
The two leaders continue on, working together to stay away from that big group. -
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As the race passed half distance, the pace raised and the attacks started to come... -
...Yorben Van Tichelt's ability to hop the barriers and spare himself a dismount proved a big advantage, which he used to make a gap every lap. -
The chasing pack was starting to fragment and attack each other too. -
Angelo De Clercq and Jan Denuwelaere take a flyer off the front of the group. -
Field kept pulling Van Tichelt back after the boards, but it meant burning a lot of matches... -
...and despite going into the final lap ahead... -
...Field wasn't able to hang on, and Yorben Van Tichelt took the win in Derby. -
