2026 Lloyds National Cyclo-cross Championships: preview and startlists
Form, rivalry and winter resilience set the scene for a decisive weekend in South Shields at the 2026 Lloyds National Cyclo-cross Championships (10-11 January)
After a winter of powering through mud, sand, and snow, the stars of Britain’s cyclo-cross scene converge on South Shields for a hectic weekend of racing which will see a handful of lucky riders walk away adorned with the National Champion’s stripes.
But who will be leaving the North East with the blue, white, and red bands? We take a look at the North East course and pick out our riders to watch in the Junior Men & Women, and Elite Men & Women races.
Featured Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
The course
Perched above the beach and exposed to the often brutal North Sea wind, Gypsies Green has been a staple of the National Trophy Series for the last few years, with a technical course that makes the most of the banking of the old outdoor velodrome and the natural elevation of the grassland along the coast.
For this year, the route has been tweaked slightly – remaining is the finish within the velodrome, but changed is the start loop, which shifts from the grass alongside the New Crown pub to the asphalt of the promenade below the main course.
When the field gets onto the circuit proper, plenty of straights linking complex sequences of corners mean the course suits those with explosive power out of the turns, allied to the stamina to maintain that pace throughout the race.
Alderney Baker wins at Gypsies Green in 2024. Image: Joe Hudson
It’s not all that easy, though, as the course features the customary sand trap above the sea-end of the velodrome to sap yet more energy from the legs. That’s in addition to a few extra features organisers South Shields Velo Club have added compared to its last appearance in the National Trophy, with stairs and ramps included to provide extra challenges.
While the course doesn’t normally become a complete mud bath, with decent drainage thanks to its by-the-sea location, this year could see the grass become more torn up than usual. The first weekend of the New Year saw South Shields transformed into a winter wonderland, with snow blanketing the region. Combine that with a forecast week of rain and sleet – including across the race weekend itself – and mud could become a bigger factor than usual.
Riders to watch
Junior Open (Sunday 09:45)
Domestically, this season has been a battle between Luke Trafford (Shibden Cycling Club) and Jacob Steed (Sherwood Pines Cycles Forme), with the former taking four Trophy wins to Steed’s one. Both have been putting in more than respectable performances over in Belgium, so expect the main competition to come from one of these two.
Luke Trafford (left) and Jacob Steed (right). Image: Joe Hudson
Hitting form at the right time is Joe Wooliscroft. The Shibden CC rider stormed to victory on the Irvine sand last weekend, the culmination of steadily improving performances in his first year in the Junior ranks.
You could say the same for Xander Graham (SCOTT Pioneer DJ). Runner-up in the overall National Trophy to Trafford, Graham has been quietly going about his riding and building up a decent head of steam, with numerous top fives – including a second – marking him out as a potential dark horse for a strong result.
Also falling into the dark-horse category is Sam Genazzini (Exact Power – Versa Energy). He took a podium in Derby and cracked the top 15 at both the Namur World Cup and the Exact Cross in Kortrijk – if the forecast rain does have an impact on conditions, he could just sweep in and cause trouble.
One rider who is the true definition of a dark horse is Tanner Beetge (Unattached). He’s done just one race in the UK this season – the National Trophy in Bradford – but has taken wins in the USA back in November. He was 10th at the 2025 Championships; could he do better this time out?
Junior Women (Sunday 10:45)
Looking at the results throughout the season to date, two names immediately jump out – Zoe Roche and Peggy Knox (ViCiOUS VELO). The pair have been taking wins all season, but with Roche electing to move up into the Elite category – more on that below – Knox will undoubtedly start the Junior Women’s race as favourite.
Having won the U16 title last year, Knox exploded into her first season in the Junior ranks with three wins at the Hope Supercross Series and numerous top fives in Belgium during the Kerstperiode, putting her in superb form heading to the North East.
Peggy Knox. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Not that she’ll have it all her own way. Showing good form throughout the season have been riders including Iris Gray (Liv Cycling Club – Halo Films) and Freya Mowbray (Scotia Offroad Race Team) – winners at Bradford and Irvine respectively – who will be looking to keep the pressure on Knox throughout the race and capitalise on any mistakes or issues.
Don’t forget Katie Colling (sister of Smurfit Westrock’s Alice). The Brother UK – On Form rider was the model of consistency as she won the Junior Women’s title in the National Trophy Series – don’t count her out from at least being in podium contention.
Elite and U23 Women (Sunday 13:15)
The two headline entries come from the previous two National Champions – Anna Kay (Essec Cycling Team) and Xan Crees (OGT p/b USE). The pair both have different motivations for wanting to take a second title. For Crees, defending a hard-won jersey would cap off a solid year in which she has not only been a rider but also a team manager, having elected to go it alone this season.
Adding extra motivation for Kay is the fact that these are the most local Championships she’ll enjoy for a number of years – making a win even sweeter in front of a home North East crowd.
That said, there are plenty of riders who’ll want to stake their own claim to the top spot, namely Ffion Drake (Wold Top Pactimo). The flying doctor has hit the form of her life this season, with two podiums against riders such as Laura Verdonschot in the Hope series acting as the appetiser to four wins on the bounce in the National Trophy and the overall Series title. A crash in Flamanville, combined with illness over December, has meant she’s not quite 100%, but if she can rediscover earlier-season form she’ll be a favourite.
Also up for a fight is Alderney Baker (Team Empella). Whilst not able to match the wins she gained in 2024/25, Baker has taken podiums this season and consistently challenged at the sharp-end domestically and will have the motivation needed to clinch a strong result in Tyneside.
One to also watch for is Elena Day. Her Spectra Racing squad won the title last season with Crees and the team’s striking green, white and gold jerseys have been prominent in races in this country and in Europe. Combine that with Day’s own prowess and performance on the ‘Cross bike and she could challenge for the Elite title alongside the U23 crown.
Her teammate Anna Flynn is another of those who has a good claim on the title. Having defended her Scottish title earlier in the season, she powered away from the competition at a bitterly cold Irvine to take victory – could she add another National title this weekend?
Intriguingly, Zoe Roche (Santini Cycling) has elected to not defend her Junior title and instead make a step up into the Elite/U23 race instead. It’ll be interesting to see how she gets on against more experienced competition but with wins already in a pair of U19 races in Belgium, she’s got the confidence and form to do well.
Elite and U23 Open (Sunday 14:30)
Since the 2022 season, only two riders have won the Elite Men’s title – Cameron Mason (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Thomas Mein (Hope Factory Racing). Generally, the playbook follows a similar theme – the pair metaphorically knock seven bells out of each other and one of them hangs on to claim the title. For the last three years, that’s been Mason and with the Scot achieving podiums in the World Cups, Exact Cross, and X20 Trofee this season he’ll head into the Men’s race as favourite.
But Mein won’t be going down without a fight and will be wanting to avenge his DNF at Cyclopark 12 months ago. He’s already picked up wins against fierce Belgian competition in the Supercross series, and has been scoring top 30s in the World Cup – expect him to take it to Mason right from the off on what is his local course.
Cameron Mason. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
Elsewhere, Spectra riders aren’t just excelling in the Women’s category, with the team’s Barnes brothers – Toby and Dan – putting in strong performances in the National Trophy during what has been a relatively quieter campaign for both. Despite their slightly shorter programmes compared to Mason and Mein, the duo have finished in the top five in every race they’ve contested on home soil and will look to throw a cat amongst the pigeons this weekend.
A potential dark horse for a good result is Jenson Young. Victory in foul conditions at the North Championships in Pontefract back in November was followed by a dominant display in Irvine to kick off 2026 – a sign that the Ribble rider may be finding form at just the right time.
Oscar Amey (TEKKERZ CC) won the Junior title 12 months ago, and his step up into the U23 field has been encouraging – an eighth at the X20 Trofee in Loenhout and 13th at the World Cup in Flamanville marking a strong start at the new level. While he’ll be targeting the stripes – at least at U23 level – his bonus goal may well be to beat older brother Alfie, racing for Spectra.
How to follow
British Cycling will be streaming all four of Sunday’s races with the Junior Open kicking off the action, followed by the Junior Women. In the afternoon it’s reversed, with the Women kicking off before the Open race rounds out the day.
After a winter of powering through mud, sand, and snow, the stars of Britain’s cyclo-cross scene converge on South Shields for a hectic weekend of racing which will see a handful of lucky riders walk away adorned with the National Champion’s stripes.
But who will be leaving the North East with the blue, white, and red bands? We take a look at the North East course and pick out our riders to watch in the Junior Men & Women, and Elite Men & Women races.
Featured Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
The course
Perched above the beach and exposed to the often brutal North Sea wind, Gypsies Green has been a staple of the National Trophy Series for the last few years, with a technical course that makes the most of the banking of the old outdoor velodrome and the natural elevation of the grassland along the coast.
For this year, the route has been tweaked slightly – remaining is the finish within the velodrome, but changed is the start loop, which shifts from the grass alongside the New Crown pub to the asphalt of the promenade below the main course.
When the field gets onto the circuit proper, plenty of straights linking complex sequences of corners mean the course suits those with explosive power out of the turns, allied to the stamina to maintain that pace throughout the race.
It’s not all that easy, though, as the course features the customary sand trap above the sea-end of the velodrome to sap yet more energy from the legs. That’s in addition to a few extra features organisers South Shields Velo Club have added compared to its last appearance in the National Trophy, with stairs and ramps included to provide extra challenges.
While the course doesn’t normally become a complete mud bath, with decent drainage thanks to its by-the-sea location, this year could see the grass become more torn up than usual. The first weekend of the New Year saw South Shields transformed into a winter wonderland, with snow blanketing the region. Combine that with a forecast week of rain and sleet – including across the race weekend itself – and mud could become a bigger factor than usual.
Riders to watch
Junior Open (Sunday 09:45)
Domestically, this season has been a battle between Luke Trafford (Shibden Cycling Club) and Jacob Steed (Sherwood Pines Cycles Forme), with the former taking four Trophy wins to Steed’s one. Both have been putting in more than respectable performances over in Belgium, so expect the main competition to come from one of these two.
Hitting form at the right time is Joe Wooliscroft. The Shibden CC rider stormed to victory on the Irvine sand last weekend, the culmination of steadily improving performances in his first year in the Junior ranks.
You could say the same for Xander Graham (SCOTT Pioneer DJ). Runner-up in the overall National Trophy to Trafford, Graham has been quietly going about his riding and building up a decent head of steam, with numerous top fives – including a second – marking him out as a potential dark horse for a strong result.
Also falling into the dark-horse category is Sam Genazzini (Exact Power – Versa Energy). He took a podium in Derby and cracked the top 15 at both the Namur World Cup and the Exact Cross in Kortrijk – if the forecast rain does have an impact on conditions, he could just sweep in and cause trouble.
One rider who is the true definition of a dark horse is Tanner Beetge (Unattached). He’s done just one race in the UK this season – the National Trophy in Bradford – but has taken wins in the USA back in November. He was 10th at the 2025 Championships; could he do better this time out?
Junior Women (Sunday 10:45)
Looking at the results throughout the season to date, two names immediately jump out – Zoe Roche and Peggy Knox (ViCiOUS VELO). The pair have been taking wins all season, but with Roche electing to move up into the Elite category – more on that below – Knox will undoubtedly start the Junior Women’s race as favourite.
Having won the U16 title last year, Knox exploded into her first season in the Junior ranks with three wins at the Hope Supercross Series and numerous top fives in Belgium during the Kerstperiode, putting her in superb form heading to the North East.
Not that she’ll have it all her own way. Showing good form throughout the season have been riders including Iris Gray (Liv Cycling Club – Halo Films) and Freya Mowbray (Scotia Offroad Race Team) – winners at Bradford and Irvine respectively – who will be looking to keep the pressure on Knox throughout the race and capitalise on any mistakes or issues.
Don’t forget Katie Colling (sister of Smurfit Westrock’s Alice). The Brother UK – On Form rider was the model of consistency as she won the Junior Women’s title in the National Trophy Series – don’t count her out from at least being in podium contention.
Elite and U23 Women (Sunday 13:15)
The two headline entries come from the previous two National Champions – Anna Kay (Essec Cycling Team) and Xan Crees (OGT p/b USE). The pair both have different motivations for wanting to take a second title. For Crees, defending a hard-won jersey would cap off a solid year in which she has not only been a rider but also a team manager, having elected to go it alone this season.
Adding extra motivation for Kay is the fact that these are the most local Championships she’ll enjoy for a number of years – making a win even sweeter in front of a home North East crowd.
That said, there are plenty of riders who’ll want to stake their own claim to the top spot, namely Ffion Drake (Wold Top Pactimo). The flying doctor has hit the form of her life this season, with two podiums against riders such as Laura Verdonschot in the Hope series acting as the appetiser to four wins on the bounce in the National Trophy and the overall Series title. A crash in Flamanville, combined with illness over December, has meant she’s not quite 100%, but if she can rediscover earlier-season form she’ll be a favourite.
Also up for a fight is Alderney Baker (Team Empella). Whilst not able to match the wins she gained in 2024/25, Baker has taken podiums this season and consistently challenged at the sharp-end domestically and will have the motivation needed to clinch a strong result in Tyneside.
One to also watch for is Elena Day. Her Spectra Racing squad won the title last season with Crees and the team’s striking green, white and gold jerseys have been prominent in races in this country and in Europe. Combine that with Day’s own prowess and performance on the ‘Cross bike and she could challenge for the Elite title alongside the U23 crown.
Her teammate Anna Flynn is another of those who has a good claim on the title. Having defended her Scottish title earlier in the season, she powered away from the competition at a bitterly cold Irvine to take victory – could she add another National title this weekend?
Intriguingly, Zoe Roche (Santini Cycling) has elected to not defend her Junior title and instead make a step up into the Elite/U23 race instead. It’ll be interesting to see how she gets on against more experienced competition but with wins already in a pair of U19 races in Belgium, she’s got the confidence and form to do well.
Elite and U23 Open (Sunday 14:30)
Since the 2022 season, only two riders have won the Elite Men’s title – Cameron Mason (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Thomas Mein (Hope Factory Racing). Generally, the playbook follows a similar theme – the pair metaphorically knock seven bells out of each other and one of them hangs on to claim the title. For the last three years, that’s been Mason and with the Scot achieving podiums in the World Cups, Exact Cross, and X20 Trofee this season he’ll head into the Men’s race as favourite.
But Mein won’t be going down without a fight and will be wanting to avenge his DNF at Cyclopark 12 months ago. He’s already picked up wins against fierce Belgian competition in the Supercross series, and has been scoring top 30s in the World Cup – expect him to take it to Mason right from the off on what is his local course.
Elsewhere, Spectra riders aren’t just excelling in the Women’s category, with the team’s Barnes brothers – Toby and Dan – putting in strong performances in the National Trophy during what has been a relatively quieter campaign for both. Despite their slightly shorter programmes compared to Mason and Mein, the duo have finished in the top five in every race they’ve contested on home soil and will look to throw a cat amongst the pigeons this weekend.
A potential dark horse for a good result is Jenson Young. Victory in foul conditions at the North Championships in Pontefract back in November was followed by a dominant display in Irvine to kick off 2026 – a sign that the Ribble rider may be finding form at just the right time.
Oscar Amey (TEKKERZ CC) won the Junior title 12 months ago, and his step up into the U23 field has been encouraging – an eighth at the X20 Trofee in Loenhout and 13th at the World Cup in Flamanville marking a strong start at the new level. While he’ll be targeting the stripes – at least at U23 level – his bonus goal may well be to beat older brother Alfie, racing for Spectra.
How to follow
British Cycling will be streaming all four of Sunday’s races with the Junior Open kicking off the action, followed by the Junior Women. In the afternoon it’s reversed, with the Women kicking off before the Open race rounds out the day.
You can find the stream, behind a £2.99 paywall, on British Cycling’s YouTube channel here.
Updates throughout the day will also be on the governing body’s social media channels.
Provisional startlists
Junior Open (Sunday 09:45)
Junior Women (Sunday 10:45)
Elite and U23 Women (Sunday 13:15)
Elite and U23 Open (Sunday 14:30)
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