News: Medals for GB at Cross Champs

Double podium for GB at European Cyclocross Championships as Thomas Mein wins silver at the U23 European championship and Cameron Mason wins Bronze

News: Medals for GB at Cross Champs

The Great Britain Cycling Team got off to a flying start at the UEC European Cyclo-cross Championships in ‘S-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, earlier today when Thomas Mein and Cameron Mason won the silver and bronze medals respectively in the under-23 men’s race.

Race favourite and reigning world champion Ryan Kamp, competing in his home country, put in a strong start and held a consistent, fast pace to inch away from the competition and take the victory. Thomas and Cameron were at the front throughout, and with no tactical features to help make a decisive move it was a test of strength to get to the finish line, which Thomas crossed twelve seconds down with Cameron one second behind him.

From the start, Thomas Mein was part of the leading group of five riders with his compatriot Cameron Mason and world champion Ryan Kamp. Halfway through the race, Mein chased the lone Dutch leader, before he was joined by Mason. The British duo raced 15 seconds behind Kamp until the finish. Finally, Mein won the battle for the silver medal.

Thomas Mein: “That was brutal! The hardest race of the season I think, even though it’s a shorter under-23 race it was still full-gas from start to finish.” “The previous years, I never managed to finish on the podium of an international championship. So I’m very happy to win this silver medal! It was only the first U23 race of the season, so it was special to set the pace ourselves. But the race went like I expected, with the Dutch riders starting fast. Ryan Kamp was a little too strong today, and when I had a difficult moment with two laps to go, Cameron Mason joined me. Knowing that it was only 6 minutes to go, I gave all I had during the final lap to win that silver medal.

Bronze medallist Cameron Mason said: “I’m very happy with that. I knew my legs were good, but the course was just flat out and once I’d caught up with Thomas I knew I needed to keep pushing my pace on because as soon as you let up then you can start making mistakes, so yes – very, very happy with that.”

Elsewhere in the under-23 men’s field, Toby Barnes finished in 13th, Lewis Askey in 16th, Rory McGuire in 19th, Oli Stockwell was 29th, Dan Barnes was 31st and Tom Couzens was 35th. The elite women were also in action today with Ffion James finishing in 21st place and Amira Mellor in 22nd. The Dutch trio of Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, Annemarie Worst and Lucinda Brand filled the podium.

European Championship U23:
1.Ryan Kamp
2.Thomas Mein +12
3.Cameron Mason +13