Kay stars as Mellor takes yellow
Riders battle quagmire-like conditions in North Yorkshire, reports Snowdon Sports
Anna Kay (Starcasino) powered to a solo victory in the sixth and final round of the National Trophy Cyclocross Series in North Yorkshire last weekend, while fourth was enough for Amira Mellor (Spectra Wiggle p/b Vitus) to clinch the overall win with her fourth victory in the series.
“It’s always nice to get a win in Britain,” said Kay, who was over two and a half minutes clear of second-placed Josie Nelson (Spectra Wiggle), with team-mate Xan Crees another minute back in third.
“It was quite a slippy course, there wasn’t a lot of grip anywhere but I like it like that. Now I’m heading back to Belgium this week for one last weekend of racing before the Worlds.”
Meanwhile newly crowned national champion Thomas Mein (Torman’s Circus) went it alone in the elite men’s race, crossing the line well ahead of his nearest rivals, having made light work of the mud at Broughton Hall near Skipton.
He said: “This was my first Trophy race of the year, and to be able to wear the stripes is special,” he said. “When I’m on the start line at the World Cup next week I’ll be proud to wear it.
“It was a hard race today, I didn’t feel so good. I messed up on the second lap and lost about 10 seconds, but I managed to get it back through the technical sections on the other side of the course.
“There wasn’t a lot of grip anywhere but I like it like that”
“It was a tough course, on the top sections with the hairpins it was so slick. You had to ride within the limits of the track, pick your line and stick to it, otherwise you’d be slipping everywhere.”
It may have been tough, but Mein made it look relatively easy. He crossed the line at the end of eight laps just over a minute ahead of second-placed Ben Chilton, the Spectra Wiggle under-23, while Toby Barnes (Schamel p/b Kloster) was another 32 seconds back in third.
Men’s series leader and overall winner Corran Carrick-anderson (T-MO Racing) didn’t ride, having already completed five counting events.
After winning the women’s title, Amira Mellor said: “I’m really happy to take the overall win, and especially here in Yorkshire.
“It’s been a tough series with a good variety of courses which made it a close competition. This was a great final race with lots of support which was much needed after having Covid over the New Year – my lungs were really burning today!”