British riders selected for 2024 UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championships
British Cycling has announced the talented Great Britain Cycling Team cyclo-cross riders heading to the Czech Republic to compete at the 2024 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships, from Friday 2 – Sunday 4 February.
The 11-strong team will compete on the well-known technical cyclo-cross circuit in Tabor to contest the world titles across three days of racing.
Cameron Mason will contest the elite men’s category after his breakthrough year in the sport, becoming the first ever British man to stand on the podium at the European Championships, winning the silver medal in November 2023. After defending his national title in January ‘24, he will be looking to round out his season with another strong performance. Thomas Mein, winner of the National Trophy Series who has had three top 15 world cup finishes this season, will join Mason in the elite men’s competition.
Anna Kay will be the solo representative in the elite women’s category after a positive season that has seen her achieve her first ever elite national title, as well as a raft of top-10 and podium finishes across the international season.
In the under-23 women, Zoe Backstedt will take to the start line with hopes of equalling or bettering last year’s silver medal, having already proven her dominance in this category by taking the 2023 European title as well as securing two world cup podium finishes in the elite category.
Following a strong-showing of results at national level, as well two top 15 finishes internationally, Dan Barnes will race for the under-23 men and will be joined by national champion Corran Carrick-Anderson.
After a powerful and dominant performance that saw her take the national title by four minutes, and a season that has included two world cup wins, Cat Ferguson will contest the junior women’s title. She will be joined by Imogen Wolff who has taken second and third place on the world cup podium this year, and national championship silver medallist and world championship debutant Alice Colling.
On the junior men’s side, brothers Oscar and Alfie Amey are gearing up to race at the worlds after powerful rides at the recent national championships saw them finish first and third respectively. This event will also mark Oscar’s cyclo-cross world championships debut.
Matt Ellis, Great Britain Cycling Team Cyclo-cross Co-ordinator said: “Our British riders have had an incredible year, with some fantastic results including Zoe Backstedt’s win and Cam Mason’s second place finish at the European Championships earlier in the season. These performances and many others across the squad fill me with a lot of confidence as the riders get the chance to show what they can deliver on the world stage.
“We have such a range of experience across the squad, from riders looking to add another world championship medal to their collection, to riders attending their first world championships who will take massive learnings from this experience and have the potential to become the stars of the future.
“I’m really proud that we have the strength and depth across the programme to take 11 riders to a world championships, it’s a credit to the talent teams and coaching staff that support these riders to become the best in their sport and I’m looking forward to seeing how that plays out in racing.”
The British team, who won a silver medal in the first ever cyclo-cross mixed relay world championship race last year, will compete again with the full line up selected closer to the event.
Great Britain Cycling Team squad for the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships:
Elite men
Cam Mason
Thomas Mein
Elite women
Anna Kay
Under-23 men
Dan Barnes
Corran Carrick-Anderson
Under-23 women
Zoe Backstedt
Junior men
Oscar Amey
Alfie Amey
Junior women
Cat Ferguson
Imogen Wolff
Alice Colling
Header image: Anna Kay of Great Britain competing at the 2023 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships, Hoogerheide, Netherlands. Credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
