Cyclocross World Championships preview
Great Britain's 13-strong squad who are heading out to Valkenberg, Netherlands, for this weekend's Cyclocross World Championships is headlined by some of the most promising young cyclists the country has ever produced. Joining veterans of the sport Helen Wyman, Nikki Brammeier and Ian Field, are a veritable hall of fame of U23 riders. Let's take a look at just a few of the names to look out for and the bikes that they're riding.
Tom Pidcock
Yes, we did talk about a certain young Pidcock a couple of weeks ago. No, we don't think it's too soon to rave about him again. This young rider has been the talk of the nation for twelve months or more and shows no sign of easing off. As well as being crowned British national champion at U23 level, Pidcock has won four rounds of the U23 World Cup this season. What's more, he has more than once shown immense power and resilience to climb up through the placings at alarming pace after crashes or mechanicals have threatened his race. After last year's gold medal at junior level and a strong CX season with his new team, Pidcock heads to the Netherlands as one of the favourites to claim his third set of rainbow bands in 12 months.
Evie Richards
Tom Pidcock's fellow U23 national champion, Evie Richards, has the singular honour of being the first women ever to win an under-23 World Championship title. She burst onto the scene at the inaugural women's event in 2016 - her first overseas 'cross event, if you can believe that - and has since proved over and over again that she is a rider to watch. Still racing U23, Richards continues to dominate, not just earning top placings in her age group, but winning podium spots in the elite category too. Riding for Trek Factory Racing and showing a true passion for every aspect of her sport, she is also a clear favourite for Saturday's race.
Both Tom Pidcock and Evie Richards ride Trek's world-topping Boone, a bike we have in stock in many different model packages, alongside some of the American manufacturer's more affordable alloy 'cross machines.
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Dan Tulett
Dan Tulett steps up to U23 with Pidders having joined his British teammate on the historic all-British podium at the Junior WC last year. He's clearly from a very strong cycling family as his younger brother Ben joins the national squad, filling Dan's recently vacated spot in the junior category. Dan Tulett finished second behind Pidcock at last year's Junior World Championships and has had a strong season racing with Specialized Racing - SRAM, collecting a hat-trick of top-30s in the World Cup.
Riding with Specialized Racing-SRAM, Dan Tulett has access to the whole range of Specialized bikes for racing and training, whether he's on his Crux cyclocross racing bike, training on Mallorca's hills or keeping his legs turning on the MTB trails. The Specialized Crux is one of the more recognisable 'cross bikes on the market and is available with a wide range of specifications.
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The Cyclocross World Championships are sure to provide some world-class entertainment this weekend. The fun starts with the junior men's, women's U23 and women's elite races on Saturday, and the event rounds out with the men's U23 and elite races on Sunday. Keep your eyes peeled for our young stars and if you find yourself inspired to try out the sport, you know where to look to get yourself set up!
