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Wheelbase are super-proud to be able to say that our Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli Cyclo-Cross team now has its very own World Champion!
A HUGE congratulations to team rider Lewis Craven who took the win at the UCI 2021 Masters Cyclo-Cross World Championships which was hosted at Trinity Park in East Suffolk, UK this weekend. Lewis has raced for Wheelbase for 20 years now and has been a faithful team member, representing us with some fantastic results throughout that time; even more importantly he has always raced with a friendly and relaxed outlook to competition and is well-loved in the National Cyclo-Cross scene here in the UK so it was fantastic to see him take the big one!
Lewis was already racing for us in the colours of National Vet 40 Champion after winning that title back in January 2020 shortly before the Coronavirus pandemic took hold; this was is first opportunity to race for the ultimate jersey of World Champion, the fact that the World Championships were taking place on home turf were an added bonus, although the five hour journey to the race venue from his home in the North was not to be underestimated. In race conditions that were not necessarily suited to Lewis (he prefers really muddy races) the course was mainly dry and encouraged fast, frenetic racing with attacks going on the very first lap.
Lewis knew he had to join the move and a quick check of his fellow escapees gave him the confidence that this early attack and gap on the main bunch would likely hold for the duration of the race. There was soon a three-way battle for the win between Lewis, Tony Fawcett and David Earth and as the race progressed Lewis knew that he had to make a move to see if he could break the group before a sprint, as he didn’t rate his chances if it came down to a 3-up race for the line.
Lewis went off quite early and gained a significant gap, but before he could settle into a rhythm riding solo he made a small mistake on one of the damper, more slick sections of the course and went down hard, with a twisted saddle Lewis struggled on to the pits to swap his bike, being ably assisted by friend, teammate and top pitman Stu Reid who handed up his 2nd bike. That time delay cost Lewis the lead and Dave Earth re-made contact with Lewis while Tony Fawcett raced on a short distance behind but within view of the action at the front of the race.
While he recomposed himself and Dave sat on is wheel to conserve energy for the possible sprint finish Lewis knew that if he was to guarantee himself the win he had to try to make another move before the finish line. Going into the technical wooded section of the course on the last lap Lewis pounced; relying on his renowned bike handling skills he got the small gap he needed and drove on powerfully to the line, not giving up an ounce of pedalling power until his front wheel had crossed the line.
A quick check over his shoulder on the final straight had reassured Lewis he’d got enough of a gap over 2nd and 3rd place and he had time to put his arms up to the sky and celebrate the biggest win of his career; Lewis Craven – World Masters Champion! Needless to say Lewis was a popular winner with the whole Cyclo-Cross racing community celebrating his win and his fellow podium finishers being quick to congratulate him. All that was left to do was receive the iconic World Champions jersey which Lewis will now wear every time he races cyclocross until it’s time to defend the jersey next season.
Massive congratulations to you Lewis and thanks again for being such a great spokesman for Wheelbase! Thank you all of our sponsors for your continued support, making the running of this team possible – Wheelbase, Cannondale, Castelli, Cabtech and Saddleback. Now we need to get some new World Champs kit made!…
Post-race interview with World Champion Lewis Craven, credits to VELOUK.NET
Written by Johnny Dodgin
Photos by Basil Thornton
