World Champs one week to go !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Permalink Reply by Graham Robins on January 24, 2010 at 5:25pm

In the Junior Men's category, National Champion and national series winner Tom Moses is joined by Dan McLay, Luke Gray and Luke Grivell-Mellor

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Permalink Reply by barry davies on January 24, 2010 at 6:16pm

checking the results on cycling news there is no GB riders in the first 53

on CX magazine they have Daniel Mclay as the only GB rider in 12th palce out of 73

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Permalink Reply by Azencross on January 24, 2010 at 10:20pm

Unfortunately cross cannot retain its top young riders and sadly what we are seeing is a rise in participation, but a decline in performance in mens events. In the years between 2000 and 2008 inclusive, THIRTY different riders have riden for GB at the World Champs as junior or under 23. NOT ONE contested this years National Trophy Series.

We have 6 lads with a shed load of national cross podiums and over 50 appearances for GB as Junior or under 23 at cross and mtb, who are still eligible to ride u23, yet NOT ONE rode a single round of the cross Trophy series or entered the Nationals. Consequently, this is the weakest u23 field for about 10 years. Last year was the weakest junior field for about 10 years. Fortunately, its bounced back a bit this year, but still not where it was. The Senior Trophy and Nationals field is well down on what it used to be.

As cross is a niche cycling discipline its not difficult to get to the top in the UK compared to other disciplines, but there's not much there once you arrive. These lads are also very competent at other cycling disciplines which offer a greater return. Of the under 23s mentioned above four have joined UCI registered pro road squads, one is on the MTB academy and the other has just left the academy. Two top seniors have also left cross this year for pro road teams.

Its disappointing for all those who work hard to develop the sport, but unless there is a radical restructuring, which will need an enormous financial investment, I cannot see anything changing.

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Permalink Reply by barry davies on January 24, 2010 at 11:51pm

so how much money does British cycling allow out of its vast sports council grant to cycling to British cyclo cross ??

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Permalink Reply by martin booth on January 25, 2010 at 12:43pm

Hi barry,very long time no see.The finance for cross,is ring fenced,based on the income generated from race levies and the like,I stand corrected but when we became part of British Cycling,I believe that figure was around £31000.00,based on what was spent in the final year of the BCCA,.Since then that figure has fallen to around £27000.00,(even though particpation has grown quite drastically )once again I stand corrected,on these figures.
With regards to azencross' statements about lack of participation at Worlds level,very tight selection criteria are now applied,by the selection committee,but there job is made all the more difficult,by BC coaching staff who prefer their charges to follow there chosen path,even though the individuals concerned would prefer a more 'cross orientated route during the winter months.This is a very frustating position,as many of these kids come from a 'cross grounding,and therefore more often than not have a great afinity for the sport and want to compete at the pinnacle of it.
One final point,with regards to 'cross going on it's own.I've heard this statement made time and time again,by numerous people over the past few years,so you arn't on your own there.But i don't think it would make any difference.Martin B

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Permalink Reply by barry davies on January 25, 2010 at 11:28pm

surely with one week before the worlds, the junior team should have at least have ridden in Holland ???
£27000 ??? really ?? bet BC spends that amount on pasta for the road and track teams in a year ??
what ever happened to taking part to improve performance ?? its a good job that those in charge today were not around
when a young Chris Dodd was selected to ride the worlds in Holland when he finished 5th . guess we will all have to wait for Mr Brailsford to win the tour de france and maybe he will then decide to win a world cyclo-cross championship.

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Permalink Reply by Azencross on January 26, 2010 at 11:37am

To be fair, the Commission did support juniors riding internationally, although as a result of performance deteriation the policy changed. In 2006/7 we had a strong junior quartet, two of whom were supported to ride the Euro Champs. 4 rounds of the World Cup and the World Champs. Two others did a number of international races as well. They were all generally in the top 20-40% of the field. A year later, two joined the MTB academy, one the Road academy and one comfortably won the first 3 rounds of the Trophy Series, before packing up the sport, feeling he couldnt improve internationally without moving overseas. (As an aside, none of these lads have done cross this year).
Junior standards fell over the next few years to a point where at the 2008/9 Euro's GB juniors filled 4 of the last 5 positions and the Worlds results were not good. The U23 results were also disappointing at the Euro's/Worlds.
Consequently, the policy was changed as it was felt that sending riders to World level competition to ride round near the back was not a good use of money and didnt develop them anyway. Logically Vlaams Crosscup would be a better start point, with a view to progressing to GVA and Super Prestige and finally World Cup if results justify it. The extract below suggests a similar strategy but not sure whether it was ever implemented.

Extact from minutes below.
International Competition Update
Brian Furness, Pete Hargroves and Martin Eadon summarised the outcomes of the meeting of international competition personnel held in February. It had been agreed that it was no longer viable to allocate funds towards participation in elite World Cup events, and that some available resources would be diverted towards nurturing talent at the younger end of the age spectrum. To this end, it was proposed that a training weekend be held at the start of the season, focussing primarily on riders in the 16-20 age band who were able to demonstrate a commitment to cyclo-cross. From this group, it was envisaged that a smaller selection would be made, with targets based on domestic performance, and some continental races below World Cup level. Brian Furness indicated that he had spoken to Gary Coltman, who was happy to support this from the Talent Team perspective. Martin Eadon was asked to pursue options.

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