National champions Helen Wyman and Ian Field to lead red, white and blue team in Koksijde dunes
British Cycling has announced the list of riders that will be representing Great Britain at the cyclocross World Championships in Koksijde, Belgium at the end of the month. Great Britain is sending riders to compete in each of the four events – elite, under-23, and junior men, and elite women – with each team led by the winner of last weekend’s national championships.
“I’m looking forward to seeing National Champions Helen Wyman and Ian Field lead this team forward to the World Championships,” said Team Manager Phil Dixon. “I think this year is the strongest the women’s team in particular has been, and I believe they are in a good position to challenge for the podium.”
Despite recent illness, Wyman, who picked up her seventh straight national title last week, has been consistently on, or close, to the podium in virtually every race this season. Significantly, three British women – Wyman, Nikki Harris, and Gabby Day – finished in the top ten of the World Cup race in Koksijde at the end of November.
Field, who is the only male British elite rider to be based in Belgium for the whole winter season, finished 22nd in Koksijde this year. Dixon is also optimistic about the chances of the junior and under-23 men too, since they now receive comparable support from British Cycling to road and track riders.
“For the younger riders, this is the second year of British Cycling’s Cyclo-Cross Development Plan and we’ve got four U23 and three Junior men who will make the start line,” Dixon said. “I think these guys will put on a good show and I’m looking forward to seeing them push closer to a podium finish at these World Championships.”
The cyclocross World Championships take place on January 28th and 29th; Koksijde is situated on the north coast of Flanders, less than 10km from the border with France.
Great Britain team for cyclocross World Championships
Elite Men
Ian Field
Jody Crawforth
Paul Oldham
Elite Women
Helen Wyman
Nikki Harris
Annie Last
Gabby Day
Under-23 Men
Steve James
Kenta Gallagher
Luke Gray
Jack Clarkson
Junior Men
Hugo Robinson
Alex Welburn
Joe Moses