2026 Lloyds National Cyclo-cross Championships: report and results
Cameron Mason (Seven Racing) and Anna Flynn (Spectra Racing) claimed the Elite Open and Elite Women’s national titles respectively at the 2026 Lloyds National Cyclo-cross Championships.
Earlier, Jacob Steed (Sherwood Pines Cycles Forme) and Peggy Knox (ViCiOUS VELO) secured the Junior Open and Junior Women’s titles in cold, wind-affected conditions at Gypsies Green (11 January 2026).
Cameron Mason (Seven Racing) claimed his fourth consecutive Elite Open national title after riding clear in the second half of the race, while Anna Flynn (Spectra Racing) secured a maiden Elite Women’s title by moving clear mid-race and holding her advantage to the finish as conditions worsened through the afternoon.
Earlier in the day, the junior championships were decided in cold, wind-affected conditions. Jacob Steed (Sherwood Pines Cycles Forme) won the Junior Open title after moving clear in the closing stages, while Peggy Knox (ViCiOUS VELO) led throughout to take the Junior Women’s crown.
Featured image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Report
Racing at the 2026 Lloyds National Cyclo-cross Championships began at Gypsies Green, South Shields, in difficult weather conditions. The opening races were held in strong winds, with temperatures around two degrees and sleet falling during the morning. The exposed nature of the course amplified the impact of the weather, particularly across the promenade and sand sections.
Junior Open
Milo Wills (Trinity Racing Cross) led the race through the opening two laps, setting the pace at the front. During the third lap, Wills suffered a mechanical issue which caused him to lose significant time and dropped him out of contention. His mechanical promoted Samuel Stacey (Verulam Megan’s RT) into third place.
Steed, who made a strong start, had been riding close behind Wills during the early phase of the race and moved into the lead following the mechanical. Luke Trafford (Shibden Cycling Club) lost time on the opening lap after starting on unsuitable tyres, but a subsequent bike change improved his pace. Trafford closed the gap to Steed over the final laps but was unable to regain contact before the finish.
Steed held his advantage to take the win. Trafford finished second a few seconds later, with Stacey completing the podium in third.
Wills crossed the line outside the podium places after his earlier mechanical.
Jacob Steed (Sherwood Pines Cycles Forme). Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Junior Women
Knox established a clear advantage early and maintained it throughout the race. Freya Mowbray (Scotia Offroad RT) settled into second place in the opening laps and rode alone for much of the contest.
Behind them, Charlotte Lissaman (Pine Sport) and Heidi Roscoe (Exact Power Versa Energy) were closely matched in the early stages, riding together as they contested third place. Midway through the race, Roscoe moved clear of Lissaman and opened a significant gap, securing third position.
There were no changes to the top three in the closing laps. Knox took the win, with Mowbray second and Roscoe third. Large gaps had opened between the leading riders by the finish.
Conditions worsened during the Junior Women’s race, with stronger winds and driving rain affecting the course.
Peggy Knox (ViCiOUS VELO). Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com SWpix.com
Elite Women
The opening lap saw Zoe Roche (Santini Cycling) move decisively into the lead. Roche, who won the Junior Women’s title at last year’s championships and remains junior-eligible, had chosen to step up and race in the Elite Women’s field, immediately making her presence felt at the front of the race.
She was pursued by an early chase group containing Grace Inglis (Team HUP), defending champion Xan Crees (OGT p/b USE), Anna Flynn, and National Trophy victor Ffion Drake (Wold Top Pactimo), who later abandoned.
As the race developed, Flynn and Roche began to separate themselves at the front. Flynn then moved clear to ride alone, establishing a decisive advantage. Roche later dropped back following a crash, ending her challenge for the podium.
Behind Flynn, positions continued to change as the chase group reshuffled. Inglis moved into second place during the race, before Crees regained ground in the closing laps to take second overall, with Inglis completing the podium in third. Alderney Baker (Team Empella) finished fourth.
Anna Flynn (Spectra Racing). Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
Elena Day (Spectra Racing) finished fifth overall to secure the under-23 national title. That result meant Spectra Racing claimed both women’s titles on the day, following Anna Flynn’s Elite victory. Roche finished seventh after her earlier crash.
Flynn, who is 23, will ride on the road this season for Handsling Alba Development RT.
Elite Open
The early laps were set at a high tempo by Oscar Amey (TEKKERZ CC), who led through the opening lap and briefly established himself at the front of the race. His momentum was checked early in the second lap by a mechanical issue, believed to be a dropped chain, which cost him significant time and brought his challenge to an end.
That interruption allowed Cameron Mason (Seven Racing), along with brothers Toby and Dan Barnes (both Spectra Racing), to move to the head of the race as the field began to fragment in the worsening conditions.
Midway through the race, Mason made his decisive move, attacking clear to establish a solo lead. Toby Barnes responded by settling into second place and attempting to manage the gap, while Dan Barnes initially held third as the race entered its latter stages. Behind the leading trio, Ben Askey (CC Étupes) began to close strongly, with Thomas Mein (Hope Factory Racing) also moving through the leading group.
Mason maintained his advantage through the closing laps to take the win. Toby Barnes held on to finish second, while Askey moved past Dan Barnes late on to take third overall and secure the under-23 national title. Dan Barnes finished fourth, with Mein fifth, and Amey recovering to sixth place following his earlier mechanical.
Cameron Mason (Seven Racing) claimed his fourth consecutive Elite Open national title after riding clear in the second half of the race, while Anna Flynn (Spectra Racing) secured a maiden Elite Women’s title by moving clear mid-race and holding her advantage to the finish as conditions worsened through the afternoon.
Earlier in the day, the junior championships were decided in cold, wind-affected conditions. Jacob Steed (Sherwood Pines Cycles Forme) won the Junior Open title after moving clear in the closing stages, while Peggy Knox (ViCiOUS VELO) led throughout to take the Junior Women’s crown.
Featured image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Report
Racing at the 2026 Lloyds National Cyclo-cross Championships began at Gypsies Green, South Shields, in difficult weather conditions. The opening races were held in strong winds, with temperatures around two degrees and sleet falling during the morning. The exposed nature of the course amplified the impact of the weather, particularly across the promenade and sand sections.
Junior Open
Milo Wills (Trinity Racing Cross) led the race through the opening two laps, setting the pace at the front. During the third lap, Wills suffered a mechanical issue which caused him to lose significant time and dropped him out of contention. His mechanical promoted Samuel Stacey (Verulam Megan’s RT) into third place.
Steed, who made a strong start, had been riding close behind Wills during the early phase of the race and moved into the lead following the mechanical. Luke Trafford (Shibden Cycling Club) lost time on the opening lap after starting on unsuitable tyres, but a subsequent bike change improved his pace. Trafford closed the gap to Steed over the final laps but was unable to regain contact before the finish.
Steed held his advantage to take the win. Trafford finished second a few seconds later, with Stacey completing the podium in third.
Wills crossed the line outside the podium places after his earlier mechanical.
Junior Women
Knox established a clear advantage early and maintained it throughout the race. Freya Mowbray (Scotia Offroad RT) settled into second place in the opening laps and rode alone for much of the contest.
Behind them, Charlotte Lissaman (Pine Sport) and Heidi Roscoe (Exact Power Versa Energy) were closely matched in the early stages, riding together as they contested third place. Midway through the race, Roscoe moved clear of Lissaman and opened a significant gap, securing third position.
There were no changes to the top three in the closing laps. Knox took the win, with Mowbray second and Roscoe third. Large gaps had opened between the leading riders by the finish.
Conditions worsened during the Junior Women’s race, with stronger winds and driving rain affecting the course.
Elite Women
The opening lap saw Zoe Roche (Santini Cycling) move decisively into the lead. Roche, who won the Junior Women’s title at last year’s championships and remains junior-eligible, had chosen to step up and race in the Elite Women’s field, immediately making her presence felt at the front of the race.
She was pursued by an early chase group containing Grace Inglis (Team HUP), defending champion Xan Crees (OGT p/b USE), Anna Flynn, and National Trophy victor Ffion Drake (Wold Top Pactimo), who later abandoned.
As the race developed, Flynn and Roche began to separate themselves at the front. Flynn then moved clear to ride alone, establishing a decisive advantage. Roche later dropped back following a crash, ending her challenge for the podium.
Behind Flynn, positions continued to change as the chase group reshuffled. Inglis moved into second place during the race, before Crees regained ground in the closing laps to take second overall, with Inglis completing the podium in third. Alderney Baker (Team Empella) finished fourth.
Elena Day (Spectra Racing) finished fifth overall to secure the under-23 national title. That result meant Spectra Racing claimed both women’s titles on the day, following Anna Flynn’s Elite victory. Roche finished seventh after her earlier crash.
Flynn, who is 23, will ride on the road this season for Handsling Alba Development RT.
Elite Open
The early laps were set at a high tempo by Oscar Amey (TEKKERZ CC), who led through the opening lap and briefly established himself at the front of the race. His momentum was checked early in the second lap by a mechanical issue, believed to be a dropped chain, which cost him significant time and brought his challenge to an end.
That interruption allowed Cameron Mason (Seven Racing), along with brothers Toby and Dan Barnes (both Spectra Racing), to move to the head of the race as the field began to fragment in the worsening conditions.
Midway through the race, Mason made his decisive move, attacking clear to establish a solo lead. Toby Barnes responded by settling into second place and attempting to manage the gap, while Dan Barnes initially held third as the race entered its latter stages. Behind the leading trio, Ben Askey (CC Étupes) began to close strongly, with Thomas Mein (Hope Factory Racing) also moving through the leading group.
Mason maintained his advantage through the closing laps to take the win. Toby Barnes held on to finish second, while Askey moved past Dan Barnes late on to take third overall and secure the under-23 national title. Dan Barnes finished fourth, with Mein fifth, and Amey recovering to sixth place following his earlier mechanical.
Results
Junior Open
Junior Women
Elite Women
Elite Open
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