Team High Road professional Roger Hammond held off a superb challenge from the un-gridded Liam Killeen (Specialized Factory Racing) to score his eighth national cyclo-cross championship win at Sutton Park, Birmingham, on Sunday.
Hammond rode a strong and controlled race, but had to hold off the challenge of several would-be victors before clinching the win by one second in a sprint finish from Killeen.
Hargroves Cycles ace Stuart Bowers had led in the early stages, but Hammond was never far behind along with Jody Crawforth (Evans Cycles), Paul Oldham (Hope Factory Racing) and Danny Booth (Pedal Power).
Killeen was struggling through the mass of riders on the opening lap and was not in the top eight as they crossed the line at the end of the first 2.9-kilometre laps, but by lap three he was fifth and closing.
At the end of the third lap Hammond led by six seconds from Booth and Oldham, while Killeen was just off their wheels. But by the start of lap seven Killeen hit the front with Hammond, and tried to shake off his rival as they headed for the final circuit.
But Hammond hung on, and mid-way through the last lap he attacked, holding the lead to the final corner and clinging on to take the win.
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Earlier in the day Helen Wyman (Swift Racing) had beaten team-mate Gabby Day to win the women?s title by 1-20, while VC Deal?s Alex Paton won the junior title by just ten seconds from Andrew Williams (Cwmcarm Paragon RC).
The previous day, Midlands ace Steve Knight (MI Racing) had lifted the veterans 40-49 crown ahead of team-mate Geoff Giddings, who had to settle for second spot for the second year running, while defending champion Chris Young (Team JD Cycles) was relegated to third spot, just ahead of Yorkshire rival Noel Clough (Fietsen Tempo).
Defending champion Roy Hunt (Kinesis UK) once again proved strongest in the over-50s race, beating Peter Harris (Pearce Cycles) into second, while Team Milton Keynes? Peter Smith completed that podium.
After finishing almost a minute behind his rival in the last round of the National Trophy, Ian Bibby (Science in Sport-Trek) improved considerably to win the under-23s title ahead of Ian Field (Hargroves Cycles), while David Fletcher (Science in Sport-Trek) was third.
And in the youth race, Luke Gray (Hargroves Cycles) pipped Sam Harrison (Cwmcarn Paragon RC) to the line, while Keighley youngster Tom Moses (SSC Cyclesport) was third. Ruby Miller (Maindy Flyers YCC) was best girl, while Samuel Lowe (Merlin Racing Team) was best of the under-14s.
See this week?s Cycling Weekly for much more on the National Cyclo-Cross Championship.
National Champion Roger Hammond (Team High Road)
National Cyclo-Cross Championships (Sutton Park, Birmingham).-
Seniors.- 1 Roger Hammond (Team High Road) 56-31
2 Liam Killeen (Specialized Factory Racing) at 1sec
3 Paul Oldham (Hope Factory Racing) at 20sec
4 Jody Crawforth (Evans Cycles RT) at 41sec
5 Dan Booth (Pedal Power) at 56sec
6 Ian Wilkinson (Science in Sport) at 1-07
Women.- 1 Helen Wyman (Swift Racing) 40-18
2 Gabby Day (Swift Racing) at 1-20
3 Isla Rowntree (Stourbridge CC) at 2-07
Juniors.- 1 Alex Paton (VC Deal) 36-47
2 Andrew Williams (Cwmcarn Paragon RC) at 10sec
3 Hamish Creber (Sandy Wallace Cycles) at 23sec
Under-23s.- 1 Ian Bibby (Science in Sport-Trek) 49-48
2 Ian Field (Hargroves Cycles) at 1sec
3 David Fletcher (Science in Sport) at 5sec
Veterans.- 40-49.- 1 Stephen Knight (MI Racing-EAS) 37-51
2 Geoff Giddings (MI Racing) at 2sec
3 Chris Young (Team JD Cycles) at 28sec
Over-50s.- 1 Roy Hunt (Kinesis UK) 40-16
2 Peter Harris (Pearce Cycles) at 1-02
3 Peter Smith (Team Milton Keynes) at 1-26
Youth.- 1 Luke Gray (Hargroves Cycles) 30-44
2 Sam Harrison (Cwmcarn Paragon RC) at 11sec
3 Tom Moses (SSC Cyclesport) at 1-16
Girls.- Ruby Miller (Maindy Flyers YCC). Under-14s.- Samuel Lowe (Merlin RT).
Snowdon Sports is a long-established independent sports news agency, which supplies editorial to a range of media outlets - such as Cycling Weekly - as well as sports governing bodies. Snowdon Sports often covers results at Cycling Time Trials events in the UK and has long been a source of information and imagery to Cycling Weekly.
