British Cycling has announced that the 2019 cyclocross National Championships will be hosted at the Cyclopark in Gravesend, Kent. The championships will take place from 12th to 13th January at the purpose-built cycling centre used for closed-circuit road racing and cyclocross events.
Running parallel to the A2 motorway, the circuit is famed for its tough conditions, with strong winds often a factor due to the exposed nature of the course and close proximity to the motorway.
The circuit, which also hosts a round of the National Trophy, is known for its particularly demanding and technical nature.
Featuring a gravelled step ascent, steep climbs and tricky off camber technical section, the course has frequently claimed even the most experienced of riders.
The 2017 National Trophy meet saw multiple heavy crashes including one rider snapping his frame in half during the race.
Despite being a year away, it is likely that current National Champions Helen Wyman (Xypex-Verge Sport), Tom Pidcock (Telenet-Fidea Lions) and Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing) will return to defend their titles.
All three managed to take the national stripes with relative ease in Sunderland earlier this month.
Pidcock managed to distance his rivals early, winning solo to take the men's U23 title. Later that day, Wyman took her 10th women's title having jousted with Nikki Brammeier (Mudiita) for the majority of the race.
Richards produced arguably the strongest ride of the championships, going solo within the first lap eventually winning by a considerable margin to take the women's U23 title.