ON A weekend when many of the riders seemed to be battling colds, Billy Harding and Tom Pidcock shrugged off their ailments to notch convincing victories in the HSBC National Cyclo-Cross Championships in Bradford.

Dominating from the start proved the best tactic on a Peel Park course that was firmer than usual, and Birkenshaw's Harding and Otley's Pidcock helped to make it a successful couple of days for the Oldfield-Paul Milnes Cycles ERT Team by triumphing in the under-23 men's and junior men's races respectively.

Harding, trusting his stamina after falling ill a week and a half beforehand, opened up a gap bit by bit after initially being chased by British Academy rider Frazer Clacherty (100% ME), who was passed for silver by Chris Rothwell (Ride 24/7).

George Fox (Paul Milnes-Bradford Olympic RC) was in the battle for bronze at one stage but ended up fifth. Harding, 20, said: "I wanted a fast first lap to give myself something to play with, and managed to hold the lead at 20 seconds.

"But I found it a really difficult day as the course is so challenging and I haven’t ridden for a couple of weeks after being ill.

"I was just hanging on as I felt horrendous, I’d avoided illness all winter until a few weeks before this event and I wasn’t sure if I was going to ride so I would have been really gutted. I’m really pleased with how it went."

Pidcock finished 1min 39sec ahead of former Paul Milnes rider Ben Turner ((HMT with JLT Condor).

The 17-year-old European junior champion did his Superman impression crossing the line, and confessed afterwards: "I decided to do something really acrobatic!"

European champion Pidcock (Oldfield-Paul Milnes), who many expect to win the World Championships later this month, broke clear of Turner and Dan Tulett (Specialized Racing) on the second lap.

Pidcock admitted: “I have been ill all week and wasn’t on top form but to be able to win by such a clear margin in front of a home crowd is something special.

"It’s a brilliant course – maybe my favourite in the world.”