SOME of the country’s top cyclists will be competing for a national title when they race in the region this weekend.

The National Cyclo-Cross Championships are taking place in Hetton Lyons Country Park, in Hetton-le-Hole, on Saturday, January 13 and Sunday, January 14.

The event, which will be live streamed, will start with the under-23 women’s championship and finish with the elite men’s race.

Riders include 2016 junior cyclo-cross world champion Tom Pidcock and Nikki Brammeier, who will be aiming to win her third British crown in succession.

Jonny Clay, British Cycling’s director of cycling, said: “The popularity of cyclo-cross continues to grow in Britain, and it’s fantastic that we are now able to take the discipline to an even greater audience by streaming this year’s action live on British Cycling’s website and social media channels.

“At British Cycling we want to inspire more people to get on their bikes and that’s why it is so important that we invest in our national championships and make them an event that riders, spectators and viewers will remember.

“We know that cyclo-cross is a hugely entertaining sport to watch and with the strength of the field and a fantastic course we wanted to ensure that as many people as possible can enjoy a great spectacle and be inspired to attend another event or take up the sport themselves in the future.”

  • Cyclo-cross is one of cycling’s fastest growing disciplines and the event will be live streamed on British Cycling’s website and Facebook page.