GREAT Britain Cycling Team's lead cyclo-cross coach Simon Watts feels that Tom Pidcock can be part of a golden generation that can push the nation forward in the discipline.

The 18-year-old from Otley won the men's under-23 race last Sunday in the UCI World Cup round on a muddy course in Namur, Belgium.

Evie Richards won the women's race in a British one-two ahead of Nikki Brammier, while Ben Tulett was third in the junior men's race.

A delighted Watts, whose mountain bike squad are also making big strides, said: "It's been a really good week, right through from racing the previous weekend to training in the week – there's just a really good feeling in the team at the minute.

"Sean Flynn (fifth in the junior race) was outstanding in Antwerp on Saturday, and Dan Tulett and Ben Turner have both been putting in performances that tell a lot about what's to come.

"Evie Richards put in a really controlled, excellent performance, and Tom Pidcock was just Tom Pidcock really!"

"Only now are the cyclo-cross and mountain bike teams really catching up with the other disciplines that have been so strong across all categories for the Great Britain Cycling Team.

"This generation will push through to cement these performances as the norm."

Pidcock had to battle his way through the leading riders to go head to head with fellow World Cup round-winner Eli Iserbyt (Belgium).

The churned-up surface put paid to several riders throughout the day, but Pidcock was able to dance his way across the mud, with his fleet-footed approach seeming to give him the advantage over the rest of the field.

He eventually finished just over 15 seconds ahead of Iserbyt and took his third World Cup round victory of the season after triumphs in Bogense and Koksijde.