Four Time Champion Ian Field

Four time British Men’s Cyclo-Cross Champion says “the pressure at the Nationals gets less and less each year”

Four Time Champion Ian Field

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Team Hargroves Cycles Press Release

Ian Field Wins Fourth Consecutive National Championship
Abergavenny played host to the 2015 national cyclocross championship, and the pressure was on for Ian Field (Hargroves Cycles – Ridley RT) to continue his unbeaten form. The three time defending champion sat back early in the race to survey the field, while Steve James (Hargroves Cycles – Ridley RT) led the pack.

Ian showed why he has come to dominate the discipline, with a confident and professional race. Ian held back waiting for his competitors to tire and make mistakes and then picked his moment and capitalized on a lapse of judgement from another rider to take the lead.

Jody Crawforth (Hargroves Cycles – Ridley RT) then sat back in the group letting others do the work while Ian worked to build up a strong gap and take a convincing win and keep his winning streak going. Unfortunately for Jody, a puncture on the final lap lost him a chance at second place but he valiantly fought back to fourth place by the chequered flag. Steve James came home in 8th place after a strong start meaning Hargroves Cycles RT won the Elite team prize.

Ian explained afterwards â€œThe race was text book almostâ€ adding â€œI was just biding my time at the beginning. People at the start got a little excited and then I put 100 per cent into my attack and gapped them. Then I was able to ride my own raceâ€.

Ian explained how Hargroves Cycles-Ridley teammate Steven James (below) had been ill during the week and was super fresh and used that to hit out at the start and get the team some publicity. â€œI was always going to sit in the wheels and see what happened. See who was strong and do my usual thing before I got going when I thought the time was right.â€

â€œThe pressure at the Nationals gets less and less each year for me just because I have won it three and now four times. Iâ€™d already won the series, got a 12th in the world cup at Milton Keynes, so there was less pressure. Itâ€™s been a great season. I have a couple more races in the World Cup series and then at the Worlds, I really want a top twenty.â€

â€œI had a top twenty in the World Cup on the same course last season so weâ€™ll go there and see what happens and then a holiday!â€

The under 16 category saw Harry Yates finish an impressive third with another solid performance on a course that didnâ€™t suit his style he showed a mature attitude to cap off a great first season riding for team red. In the under 14â€™s Ben Tulett suffered a costly mechanical at the worst point on the course causing him to drop from first place. Ben recovered well ending the race in fifth place.

In the veterans races Steve Davies finished in 4th place in the over 50â€™s race. Malcolm Cross finished in 9th place in the V55 race with Martin Eadon 10th. Crispin Doyle finished 9th in the Vet 40.

The Hargroves team had a fabulous weekend winning not only the overall best elite team title but also that of best overall team which incorporates every race across the weekend. Itâ€™s been another amazing year for the Hargroves team and we would like to take the opportunity to thank all of our riders and our sponsors. Thank you for a great year and letâ€™s make next year even better!

The team in pictures