Talking to Hope Factory riders Jack Clarkson and Adela Carter about their World CupsCyclo-Cross races in Milton Keynes last weekend
![]() |
Interview – World Cup for Carter and Clarkson
NOTE: Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Jack Clarkson
Britain’s Jack Clarkson rode out of his skin in the Milton Keynes World Cup to pull out a great result wearing Great Britain colours. He admitted he was surprised by the ride he pulled out. “I went into it wanting to finish top 40 and I achieved that (32nd) so it was above expectations and I’m very happy with itâ€.
“It were a hard race though and I had to work for it for sure! The crowd was amazing though. I have ridden World championships and World Cups but Milton Keynes was the best crowd I have had in my life. As a whole, ‘cross in the UK can take a lot from that weekend and world wide cross can take a lot from it as wellâ€.
“Home support means so much to the riders. With two laps to go I could have quite happily sat up and had a rest but with two laps to go, I’m dying I can hear my name being shouted which just gives you that extra liftâ€.
“Simon (Burney) did a great job organising it all and hats off to everyone involved.
Asked what it felt to be racing alongside cyclo-cross legends, Jack replied “I kind of didn’t bother with it! I just went in with the view to crack on to go as hard as I can for as long as I can. I came into it thinking top 40 or top 50 and probably last 40 minutes. To last an hour, I was made up with thatâ€.
The course to many looked unrideable but Jack admits it was okay. “There were quite a few lines you could take where you could carry a lot of momentum. The first off camber sector, I blitzed through that!â€
Adela Carter
A teammate of Jack’s at Hope, Adela finished a couple of places behind Amira Mellor, the first of the ‘home’ riders and admitted it was a lot of fun. “I’m happy to admit that was the best racing experience of my life! The fact we had a top level cyclo-cross course with a top level crowd and top level competitors in the UK; it was just ridiculously fantasticâ€.
“I was proud to be part of it even though I knew I wasn’t going to win or be anywhere close to the front end. I was really able to enjoy it though and I do hope we inspire the younger kids to get into cross and adults as well. To get them out on their bikes and enjoying the sport which is such immense fun!â€
“The race panned out as I expected. I knew I’d be dead last on the start but that wasn’t an issue as I knew there’d be some form of crash or sliding off at the start. I managed to stay upright and stay out of the way and gradually brought the race backâ€.
“I had been riding a couple of sections in practice but in the race with people around me, and working on the numbers game, I decided to run a couple even though running is definitely not my forte and I lost time there. But it did mean I didn’t crash and risk damaging the bike or myselfâ€.
“It was a good course and you had to be a good cyclo-cross rider to do well here. It tests fitness and skill. I’m training two or three hours a week and that really isn’t sufficient. I just haven’t got the time at present and I’m finding it hard to keep up the training. I was fortunate though on this course I could use my headâ€.
“It’s a full on effort for the whole race. There are places you can rest but they are micro rests, so the descents you can micro rest like three or four breathes to calm down. The corners you may get a micro rest if it’s a non pedalling corner but other than that it really is hard work and you have to decide when making an effort if it’s a macro effort or a bit of an effort!â€
“It surpassed my expectations though and I’m grateful to GB for giving us that opportunity and Hopetech as wellâ€.
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- Crit Result: Sussex Cycle Racing League Circuits 1/14
- Result: Hillingdon Slipstreamers Spring Series Event 1
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Circuit Series #15
- RESULT: 2nd Portsdown Classic
- Track Result – Manchester Regional Track League
- News: John Barclay Academy Launch
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Circuit Series #14
- QUIZ TIME! Q&A with Zack Lowe (Prologue Race Team)
- NEWS: 2025 ELITE DEVELOPMENT TEAMS
- Crit Result: Odd Down Winter Series Rd 1
- Crit Result: Chilly City Crits Rd 2
- CX Result: London/South East CX League 10
- Track Result: 2025 Manchester Regional Track League
- Another World Title for Zoe Backstedt
- TRAGIC NEWS: Aidan Loses His Life in Training Accident
- Tom Pidcock wins the AlUla Tour
- Q&A with Elliot Fraser (360cycling)
- GB Team Win World Title at CX Worlds
- Second stage win for Tom Pidcock in AlUla Tour
- 2025 West Midlands road race league
- NEWS: Ribble Cycles Bike Sponsor for Smurfit Westrock Team
- QUIZ TIME! Q&A with young talent Mark Ketteringham
- Startlist: RCR Portsdown Classic Road Race (February 9)
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Circuit Series #13
- Crit Result: Chilly City Crits Rd 1
- CX Result: Linlithgow Cross 2025
- QUIZ TIME!! REBECCA WOODVINE
- CX Result: London and South East CX League 9
- CX Results: Eastern Region CX League Rd 10
- CX Result: Wessex Cyclocross League Round 12
- QUIZ TIME! Q&A with Oscar Nisbett
- CX Result: NWCCA League Round 11
- Track Result: Manchester Regional Track League
- QUIZ TIME: Britain’s Joe Turnbull
- CYCLOCROSS: 2025-26 LLOYDS NATIONAL TROPHY SERIES CALENDAR
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Circuit Series #12
- QUIZ TIME! Dan Kemp (Prologue Junior Race Team)
- CX Result: Jersey Cyclocross League Jan 19
- CX Result: Army Cyclocross Champs 2025
- CX Result: Leicestershire Cyclocross League Rd 6
Other News on VeloUK
- News: John Barclay Academy Launch
- NEWS: 2025 ELITE DEVELOPMENT TEAMS
- Another World Title for Zoe Backstedt
- TRAGIC NEWS: Aidan Loses His Life in Training Accident
- Tom Pidcock wins the AlUla Tour
- 2025 West Midlands road race league
- NEWS: Ribble Cycles Bike Sponsor for Smurfit Westrock Team
- Startlist: RCR Portsdown Classic Road Race (February 9)
- CYCLOCROSS: 2025-26 LLOYDS NATIONAL TROPHY SERIES CALENDAR
- 2025 British CycloCross Championships Day 2
- 2025 British CycloCross Championships Day 1
- TEAM NEWS: RAPTOR FACTORY RACING
- STARTLIST: 2025 British Cyclocross Championships
- Q&A: Louis Herring (Prologue Junior Race Team)
- BRITISH CYCLOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS RIDER LIST
- NEXT WEEK: BRITISH CYCLOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS – CYCLOPARK
- 2025 EVENTS: RTTC 10 mile TIME TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIP
- THIS WEEKEND: NATIONAL TROPHY SERIES 2024/25 ROUND 5
- BMCR Newsletter January 2025
- TEAM NEWS: BCC Race Team 2025 Squad Announcement
- TEAM NEWS: 2025 Handsling Alba Development Road Team
- Q&A with Paul Opie & Tom Mead
- Team News: New Junior team for West Lothian Clarion
- 2025 Events: Plymouth Corinthian
- News: Junior/Youth National Series 2025
- Startlist: Round 4 National Trophy Cyclocross (Dec 7/8)
- ELITE ROAD AND CIRCUIT RACES CALENDAR
- Sad News: No Saint Piran team for 2025
- News: The Pedal Club Lunch (November)
- Team Update: Brother UK / Onform 2025
- 2025 NATIONAL TRACK CALENDAR ANNOUNCED
- CHS CICLISMO – Complimentary daily massage and spa!
- Team News: Fensham Howes – MAS Design 2025
- National Trophy Cyclocross: Round 3 (Torbay)
- Tofauti Everyone Active announces new partners and new name for 2025
- Rider News: Matt Thompson signs for French Team BMC Bezier
- News: Youth Tour of Scotland 2025
- FEATURE: Billy Ladle’s Stellar Season Recognised at British Cycling Awards
- 2025 Prologue Junior Race Team
- STARTLIST: BUCS Hill Climb Championships