Nikki Harris to miss cyclo-cross world champs through injury
British Cyclo-Cross Champion Nikki Harris has withdrawn from next weekend's World Championships in Kentucky through injury.
Harris has enjoyed a strong season to date, winning her first senior British title and finishing third in the World Cup series. However a knee injury first sustained in December has resulted in a premature end to her campaign.
In a press release, she said: "I've had some issues with my knee over the past few weeks after I hit it on the handlebars at the Zolder World Cup. I managed to mask the pain for a few weeks and hoped it would recover and I could finish my season strongly as I had planned.
"After an appointment with the specialist today we learned that the injury has now worsened and I have an acute tear in some tissue on my patella. Due to this I will unfortunately have to draw a close to my season immediately and take some rest. After a few weeks we can re-evaluate how things are going and decide If surgery is necessary or not.
"It's obviously a huge disappointment to me, my team and British Cycling that I won't be able to take part in the up-and-coming world championships in Louisville and the remainder of the cyclo-cross season."
British Cycling confirmed that it will not call up a replacement for Harris to compete in the championships (February 2-3).
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Nick Bull is an NCTJ qualified journalist who has written for a range of titles, as well as being a freelance writer at Beat Media Group, which provides reports for the PA Media wire which is circulated to the likes of the BBC and Eurosport. His work at Cycling Weekly predominantly dealt with professional cycling, and he now holds a role as PR & Digital Manager at SweetSpot Group, which organises the Tour of Britain.
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