The biggest British names in cyclocross may spend much of the winter in Belgium and the Netherlands, but the 2026–27 season should still produce a strong domestic battle through the Lloyds National Trophy Series and January’s National Championships.
The key man to beat in Britain remains Thomas Mein. Riding for Hope Factory Racing, Mein dominated much of the 2025–26 National Trophy campaign, winning the opening three rounds and ultimately taking the overall series. At Clanfield he recorded his 10th National Trophy victory in 12 starts, underlining just how difficult he has become to beat on British courses.
Cameron Mason remains Britain’s strongest international elite rider, but his programme is likely to be centred mainly on European racing. He will nevertheless be the favourite whenever he appears at home, particularly at the National Championships. Mason won his fourth consecutive British elite title at South Shields in January 2026, ahead of Toby Barnes and Ben Askey.
Among the younger men, Oscar Amey is one of the most interesting riders to watch. He was regularly the leading under-23 in National Trophy races last season and took second in the U23 classification at the British Championships. His speed was evident at South Shields, where he led the elite race early before Mason eventually took control.
The women’s domestic scene could be even more open. Ffion Drake was the outstanding National Trophy rider of 2025–26, winning the first four rounds and eventually taking the series overall but will now be out of action after surgery.
National champion Anna Flynn is another major name. Primarily a road rider, Flynn produced a superb ride in difficult conditions at South Shields to win the 2026 British title by more than a minute. Behind her, former champion Xan Crees finished second, with Grace Inglis third. All three should be prominent whenever they line up domestically.
Jacob Steed enters the 2026–27 cyclocross season as one of Britain’s leading young prospects. After winning the 2026 British junior title and representing Great Britain at the World Championships, he now steps up to the under-23 ranks, where domestic and Belgian racing will test his ability against stronger, more experienced opposition.
Junior categories also contain real depth. Peggy Knox took the junior women’s crown. Luke Trafford had already won four of the six National Trophy rounds during the previous season, making him one of the strongest leading British contenders.
Aisling Charlesworth enters the 2026–27 cyclocross season as one of Britain’s most exciting young talents. The 15-year-old Welsh rider won the 2026 British under-16 cyclocross title after taking four consecutive National Trophy victories. She has also demonstrated her versatility by winning national road and track titles alongside prestigious youth races in Belgium, including the Tour of Flanders. Stepping into the junior category and moving on from Fibrax Fenwick’s Wrexham CC, Charlesworth now has the opportunity to test herself in National Trophy, World Cup and other international races.
Wilfred Pugh enters the 2026–27 cyclocross season after an outstanding final year in the under-16 category. Racing for One Life Racing (Hexham), he completed a clean sweep of all six National Trophy rounds before finishing second to Theo Wan at the British Championships.
The domestic calendar begins at Derby on 17–18 October, followed by Pontypool, Cyclopark, Shrewsbury and a double-header finale at Peel Park in Bradford. The National Championships take place at Clanfield on 9–10 January 2027. Only the Derby round will carry UCI C2 status this season.
There will also be one exceptional international date on British soil: the Glasgow World Cup on 13 December, where Mason, Bäckstedt and other leading British riders could line up against the world’s best at Kelvingrove Park.
For the regular British season, though, the names to watch most closely are Mein, Drake, Flynn, Crees, Amey, Steed, Trafford and Knox. They are the riders most likely to shape the racing spectators actually see week-to-week in Britain.
