Tom Pidcock's Specialized S-Works Crux – and more tech from the 2020 British National Cylocross Championships
Tom Pidcock's Specialized S-Works Crux – and more tech from the 2020 British National Cylocross Championships
Pidcock takes second successive men's title, while Hattie Harnden wins women's race on elite debut
Tom Pidcock, who won the men's title, runs a Specialized S-Works Crux. He took gold aboard a hot pink and yellow painted version of the bike but the set up across the two is identical.
Tom Pidcock, who won the men's title, runs a Specialized S-Works Crux. He took gold aboard a hot pink and yellow painted version of the bike but the set up across the two is identical. - Matt Grayson - http://www.mattgrayson.co.uk/
Pidcock runs a stubby Zipp SL Speed stem. He slams his saddle back to make up for the reduction in reach. - Matt Grayson - http://www.mattgrayson.co.uk/
For this year's conditions, Pidcock opted to go for Challenge's Limus tyres - Matt Grayson - http://www.mattgrayson.co.uk/
Pidcock runs his SRAM Red eTap AXS groupset in a 1x arrangement. - Matt Grayson - http://www.mattgrayson.co.uk/
Pidcock runs his saddle slammed back to the limited to account for his shorter stem. - Matt Grayson - http://www.mattgrayson.co.uk/
Pidcock runs Ritchey WCS XC pedals. These are some of the lightest SPD-compatible pedals on the market and, in our experience, have excellent mud-clearing qualities. - Matt Grayson - http://www.mattgrayson.co.uk/
Ben Turner's Stevens Super Prestige. Ben always starts his races with his number two bike. - Matt Grayson - http://www.mattgrayson.co.uk/
Ben's Dura-Ace brakes are set up continental style. - Matt Grayson - http://www.mattgrayson.co.uk/
The Super Prestige includes a neat integrated chain guide to avoid potentially race-ending mis-shifts. - Matt Grayson - http://www.mattgrayson.co.uk/
Turner uses Easton EC90 SL cranks that are paired with Wickwerks chainrings, which are a favourite among 'cross racers. - Matt Grayson - http://www.mattgrayson.co.uk/
Turner runs an 11-30 Shimano Dura-Ace cassette. - http://www.mattgrayson.co.uk/
Ben Tulett's Canyon Inflite CL SLX. - Matt Grayson - http://www.mattgrayson.co.uk/
The signature design of the Inflite's top tube helps when shouldering the bike. This saw frequent use in the muddy conditions in Shrewsbury. - Matt Grayson - http://www.mattgrayson.co.uk/
The Canyon H31 Ergocockpit is an integrated stem-handlebar unit. Many cross racers opt for bars with aero tops as they provide more support in rough terrain. - Matt Grayson - http://www.mattgrayson.co.uk/
Anna Kay's Specialized S-Works Crux - Matt Grayson - http://www.mattgrayson.co.uk/
Anna had the option of using Challenge Baby Limus tubular tyres, or the regularly Limus in a rarely-seen 30mm width. - Matt Grayson - http://www.mattgrayson.co.uk/
Kay uses Ceramic Speed jockey wheels on her Ultegra Di2 mech. The oversized wheels help reduce friction, which helps save a few valuable watts. - Matt Grayson - http://www.mattgrayson.co.uk/
Kay prefers using these well-worn Easton EC90 SL Cranks. - Matt Grayson - http://www.mattgrayson.co.uk/
Beth Crumpton rides a Zannata Z46, a Belgian brand that is not well-represented in the UK. - Matt Grayson - http://www.mattgrayson.co.uk/
Crumpton's bike is finished with a customised headset cap. - Matt Grayson - http://www.mattgrayson.co.uk/
Thomas Mein's rides a Zannata Z46, the Belgian brand's second-tier 'cross wagon. - Matt Grayson - http://www.mattgrayson.co.uk/
Thomas has been living and racing in Belgium for a few years now. He shows off his Flandrian credentials with this custom top cap. - Matt Grayson - http://www.mattgrayson.co.uk/
A flattened tope tube on the bike makes it easier to carry on running sections. - Matt Grayson - http://www.mattgrayson.co.uk/
Amy Perryman's Ridley X-Night - Matt Grayson - http://www.mattgrayson.co.uk/
Perryman uses a single-sided Stages power meter on a 105-level crank. - Matt Grayson - http://www.mattgrayson.co.uk/
Amy always runs white bar tape. We can only wonder how many times that gets changed in a single cross season. - Matt Grayson - http://www.mattgrayson.co.uk/
Perryman uses a shorter than average 75mm stem, finding it gives her better control and helps for bunny hopping. - Matt Grayson - http://www.mattgrayson.co.uk/
Perryman prefers to run a double chainring setup. Most of the race will be spent in the small ring. But on flatter road sections, the big ring really helps. There is a slight increase in weight, but one that's balanced up with the performance potential. - Matt Grayson - http://www.mattgrayson.co.uk/
Kate Seedy's vibrant Forme Calver. - Matt Grayson - http://www.mattgrayson.co.uk/
Kate likes a low profile on her 'cross bike. The -17 degree 3T ARX Team stem gets the bars as low as possible. - Matt Grayson - http://www.mattgrayson.co.uk/
She also uses particularly narrow 38cm bars - Matt Grayson - http://www.mattgrayson.co.uk/
Seedy runs her Force groupset in a 1x arrangement with a 38t chainring - Matt Grayson - http://www.mattgrayson.co.uk
The 2020 British Cyclocross Championships took place this past weekend, with Hattie Harnden fending off the challenge of Beth Crumpton to take the women's elite title, while pre-race favourite – and reigning under-23 world champion – Tom Pidcock took gold in the men's event.
Sunday's race in Shrewsbury presented classic 'cross conditions, with deep mud challenging even the best riders in the country.
Photographer Matt Grayson was there for BikeRadar to scope out the pits and snap the most interesting bikes ahead of the premier event in the British cyclocross calendar.
Tom Pidcock, riding for Trinity Racing, claimed his second men's national cylocross title on a Specialized S-Works Crux. - Alex Whitehead/SWPix.com
Pidcock, who finished more than two minutes ahead of Ben Tulett, rode a Specialized S-Works Crux with SRAM Red eTap AXS components to once again pull on the national champion's jersey.
Harnden, riding for the Trek-sponsored T-Mo Racing team, went into the final lap shoulder-to-shoulder with Crumpton but broke clear in the closing stages of a thrilling race to win by 14 seconds and take the women's title on her elite debut.
Click through the gallery at the top of the page to see the bikes of Pidcock, Crumpton and Tullett, plus more tech from the British cyclocross nationals.
Hattie Harnden stepped up to the elite category and duly took the women's title in a thrilling race. - Alex Whitehead/SWPix.com
