British Cyclocross Championships 2022 winners’ bikes gallery

By Jack Evans

Published: Monday, 10 January 2022 at 12:00 am

The British Cyclocross Championships took place this weekend for the first time since January 2020, after last year’s event was cancelled due to Covid-19.

The battle to be crowned British cyclocross champion was decided in sloppy conditions at The South of England Showground near Crawley on 9 January.

The course featured technical downhills, unrideable banks and twisty bends. Thick mud made the going very slow, with the elite men completing only five laps in an hour’s racing.

Here, we present an in-depth look at two totally different bikes that took home the spoils in the women’s and men’s editions.

Who won the British Cyclocross Championships 2022?

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Thomas Mein took the win in the men’s race.
Alex Whitehead and Will Palmer/SWpix.com

Harriet Harnden of Trek Factory Racing CX produced a commanding performance to win the elite women’s race.

In the absence of Zoe Backstedt, who has won several World Cup races this year but was unable to compete due to a positive coronavirus test, the defending champion held off Annie Last (Scott Racing) by 15 seconds.

Reigning British champion and Ineos Grenadier Tom Pidcock sat out the elite men’s race, but there was no shortage of drama. Cameron Mason and Thomas Mein were neck and neck until Mason’s foot slipped out halfway through.

The Trinity Racing rider dug in to catch his Tormans Cyclo Cross Team rival before Mein opened up a gap through the quarry section on the last lap. The 22-year-old held his lead to win by four seconds.

What bikes did the winners ride?

Harriet Harnden – Trek Boone

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New national CX champion Harriet Harnden rode a Trek Boone.
Matt Grayson
"Harriet
This eye-catching design is meant to secure the foot to the pedal in slippery conditions.
Matt Grayson
"Harriet
The tread of the Challenge Limus makes it a classic mud tyre.
Matt Grayson
"Harriet
The Boone had an integrated Garmin mount in a lowered stem.
Matt Grayson

The Trek Boone is an all-out cyclocross machine from Harnden’s team sponsor and bike supplier.

At a glance, the Boone’s curvy aero tubes could cause you to mistake the CX racer for the Trek Emonda.

The bike has clearance for rubber up to 38mm wide. In adherence to UCI rules, Harnden opted for 33mm Challenge Limus cyclocross tyres, which proved popular with other riders in the mud. They held just 19psi and went on Bontrager Aeolus XXX2 wheels.

Given the day’s slow speeds and their rising prominence in cyclocross racing, it’s no surprise she chose a 1x SRAM Red eTap AXS groupset with a 38t chainring and 10-33 cassette.

A Garmin mount was integrated into the stem, which was dropped to 80mm, while the hoods were slightly raised for control on the course’s steep downhills.

Har Crankbrothers Eggbeater pedals, with plastic spacers to increase foot stability, were fitted to the 170mm cranks.

Thomas Mein – Cube Cross Race TE

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Thomas Mein will ride this Cube Cross Race TE in the British champion’s colours.
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Mein’s double chainring bucked the trend on a heavy-going course.
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His 11-32 cassette has a much smaller range than runner-up Mason’s on his 1x drivetrain.
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Mein was far from the only rider to run Challenge Limus tyres at low pressure.
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Cube says it designed this angular Cross Race TE for Tormans, the cyclocross team from Belgian WorldTour outfit Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux.

Last year’s version had an alloy frame, but Cube says its 2022 carbon model weighs 900g, shaving off a claimed 200g.

The biggest difference from Harnden’s bike is the groupset. Mein went for a 46-36 double Ultegra crankset, which was paired with an 11-32 cassette. During the race, this saw him push a larger gear than the more diminutive Mason, who rode a 42t single chainring and 10-33 cassette.

The shifters, brakes and rear mech were Shimano Dura-Ace, while Mein ran Newmen Advanced R50 Streem wheels also shod with Challenge Limus tyres inflated to about 20psi.

A Prologo Zero saddle sat atop a Ritchey seatpost. Lastly, Mein chose a pair of Shimano’s XT M8100 pedals.