2011's National Cyclo-cross event to be held in Derby

Derby is to host the 2011 British Cycling National Cyclo-cross Championships next January.

The two-day event, the highlight of the winter cycling discipline's domestic calendar, will be held at Moorways Sports Centre on the weekend of January 8-9.

The news is a coup for Derby Cyclo-cross – the collective name for the group of local clubs who got together a few years ago to promote regional and national events in the city.

Twice last year they put on rounds of the National Trophy series of races, but the national championships, held a couple of weeks ago in Birmingham this year, is the jewel in the crown.

Derby's success in landing the event is the result of almost a year of lobbying.

"Having worked hard over three years to bring the other events to Derby, we felt we'd practised our craft and that we could go for it with a bid for the nationals," Mary Gill, a Heanor Clarion member and prominent on the Derby Cyclo-cross organising committee, told the Derby Telegraph.

"We had to make our bid to British Cycling, as they own the title, so to speak, and it was around Christmas when we first heard good signs."

The local group have picked up some significant sponsors and have been grateful for the help of Cycle Derby, the council department which promotes cycling in the city.