Our Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli cyclo-cross team round out another busy season of racing this weekend as they head to the 2024 British National Cyclo-Cross Championships, being held in Scotland for the first time at the scenic Callendar Park in Falkirk.
The National Cyclo-Cross Championships comes to Scotland for the fist time!
The demanding Falkirk race venue successfully staged a round of the National Trophy Cyclo-Cross series last year, with the course proving popular with racers and spectators alike thanks to its technical sections and the super-steep challenge appropriately titled ‘The Wall’. With fast descents and difficult off-camber sections this course will favour technically gifted riders able to steal back time at key points of each lap.
The infamous ‘Wall’ will sap valuable energy from racers on every lap.
We have a long list of Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli riders competing across multiple categories over the two days of racing at Callendar Park. The Elite race on Saturday sees six of our racers competing, with Giles Drake coming into the race with good form following his top 10 placing at the final round of the National Trophy Series last weekend. Our talented Under 23 racers will no-doubt be at the sharp end of the race and Vet 40 racer Lewis Craven will be using the Elite race on Saturday as a final tune-up before he defends his National Vet 40 Championship title in Sunday’s race.
Giles Drake is coming into the National Cyclo-Cross Championships with good late-season form.
Vet 50 racer Dave Haygarth will be in action on Saturday too, hoping for a good result on slightly fresher legs than his competitors, having coming into the Cyclo-Cross season a little late due to injury. On Sunday morning Dave will swap his skinsuit and race shoes for waterproofs and wellies as he pits for his hard-racing daughter Elsie Haygarth, who is looking to take advantage of her technical riding skills on this tricky course as she competes in the Under 16 category.
Dave Haygarth enjoyed racing at Callendar Park last season and is looking forward to taking on the technical course again.
Elsie Haygarth will race against a stacked field of racing talent in the Under 16 category on Sunday.
Sunday afternoon sees our current Vet National Champion and former World Champion Lewis Craven line up against a stacked field of racing-talent to defend his National Champs jersey which he won last year at our ‘Local National Cyclo-Cross Championships’ just down the road from Wheelbase HQ at the popular Westmorland venue.
Lewis Craven became National Vet 40 Champion in last year’s race; can he defend the jersey in 2024?
The technical Falkirk course will favour Lewis Craven’s technical riding skills; we hope to see him on the podium again this year!
Lewis will be joined by teammate and local legend Davie Lines, who will receive some of the biggest cheers of the weekend, being one of the most recognisable faces in Scottish Cyclo-Cross and Road Racing.
Local hero Davie Lines will be in action on one of his favourite Cyclo-Cross courses and is bound to have lots of trackside support.
Why not come and cheer on our fantastic Wheelbase riders in Falkirk and experience the thrill of cyclo-cross racing in a vibrant, family-friendly atmosphere! You can also watch the elite races live from 11:20am on Saturday on the BBC Sport website, BBC Sport app and BBC iPlayer.
2024 British National Cyclo-Cross Championships Sat 13th/Sun 14th Jan. Callendar Park, Falkirk, FK1 1YR.
Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli Start List
Elite & U23 Male Race, Saturday 1.15pm
• Giles Drake
• Lewis Craven
• Joe Smith U23
• Flynn Gregory U23
• Callum Laborde U23
• Lee Rosie U23
Vet 50 Male Race, Saturday 2.45pm
• Dave Haygarth
Youth Under 16 Female Race, Sunday 10.30am
• Elsie Haygarth
Vet 40 Male Race, Sunday 2.20pm
• Lewis Craven (Defending Champion)
• David Lines
Photos by ManDown Media