www.britishcycling.org.uk this week has an outstanding range of action, features and interviews including hundreds of photos from a very exciting weekend of action at the Cyclo-Cross nationals. The racing calendar is also online, so you can start to get your early season entries in and the rest of your year planned. GO THERE>>>

The Racing Calendar magazine should also be with Gold members and other subscribers in the next few days – please email membership services membership@britishcycling.org.uk if your copy fails to appear. Please note that the Racing Calendar will have a free copy of Mountain Biking UK magazine with it.

ANTI-DOPING: BANNED SUBSTANCES AND METHODS LIST UPDATE

British Cycling's General Secretary, Jim Hendry, has issued the following information which updates the anti-doping regulations for cycle sport in the UK. Obviously this is a subject any competing cyclist must keep up to date with.

The main changes relate to the fact that caffeine and psuedoephedrine and the administration of local anaesthetics have been removed from the list which now corresponds to that of the International Olympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). However the following major change takes effect from 1 January 2004: -

Very Important - New Requirement Effective From 1 January 2004: All British licence holders using formoterol, salbutamol, salmeterol and terbutaline inhalers or insulin for the treatment of a medical condition are required to register an appropriate medical certificate with the Federation’s General Secretary. They are also advised to obtain a number of copies so that one is available and can be given to the Anti-Doping Inspector to attach one to the sampling forms. The best option is to carry a copy of the certificate with the racing licence. Failure to register shall not constitute grounds for any appeal against a charge in respect of a breach of the UCI or BCF Anti-Doping Regulations. Those who have already registered voluntarily are not required to re-apply. Any queries should be directed to Jim Hendry, the BC General Secretary at gensec@britishcycling.org.uk

Visit the British Cycling website for more details, including the full list of banned substances and methods: GO THERE>>>

GB TEAM FOR ‘CROSS WORLDS

The nominations for the Great Britain team to contest the World Cyclo-Cross Championships have now been confirmed and are as follows:

Elite Men: Roger Hammond, Jody Crawforth, Matt Ellis, Shaun Snodden, Dave Collins

The Championships take place on Saturday 31st January and Sunday 1st February at Pontchateau,in the Brittany region of France. Link to UCI page: GO THERE>>>

NEW LOOK FOR 2004 MOUNTAIN BIKE SERIES

Trek are to sponsor the National Cross-Country Mountain Bike Series in 2004. To be known as the Premier Mountain Bike Series the four events planned for 2004 will be an innovative combination of traditional Cross-Country racing and Short-Track and Endurance racing. Each event will be a packed two days starting on the Saturday/Day1 with the familar NPS series of races, including the usual 2 hour plus elite races. The Short-Track event will be held on the late afternoon/evening of the first day and will consist of a number of spectator friendly short knock-out races, giving the amateur riders a chance to compete against the sport's Elite. The Short-Track will culminate in a final.

The Second day of the event will be devoted to the brand-new Trek 6,4,2 Enduro, which will offer riders the opportunity to compete in an endurance event for 6, 4, or 2 hours. Starting at 10.00am the 6hr riders will open the race, 12.00noon will see the introduction of the 4hr category and the finally at 2.00pm the 2hr field will make their way on to the course. This format enables competitors to take part in a mountain bike Endurance event at their own level. As their fitness and ambitions grow, they can move up a class. At 4.00pm all the riders on course will finish together!

The Premier Mountain Bike Series will take place in four locations across the UK including some of the more traditional race venues and will start in April this year. The events will be organized by Martyn Salt, one of the UK’s leading promoters and supported by Trek and British Cycling. Martyn has been involved with mountain bike events for 6 years and some of his successes include events in the Grundig World Cup, Diesel World Cup, plus 3 rounds of the NPS at Newnham Park and Martyn is also the Creator/organizer of Newnham 90 Enduro.

Trek's Brian Buckle has been a driving force behind the new series and he said, "We aim to provide value for money, variety of terrain, good prizes, consistency and challenging events. We will be catering for categories from the under twelves through to Veterans, and we hope it will signal a return to high participation races and a true arena atmosphere." In addition to the racing, there will be a range of Go-Ride coaching and skills activities for young people to participate in throughout the weekends. Go to www.go-ride.org.uk. for more information on Go-Ride.

MID_DEVON 2004 SPRINGTIME PURSUITS

These events are run on flat, for Devon, circuit of 9.2 miles. The club is keen that all classes of riders enter, especially women, juniors, third and fourth category riders as these events are an ideal schooling into road racing. Over the years the handicapping has worked well with the scratchmen only getting to the front in the last miles. These three races will be an ideal way of getting into road racing. The headquarters for the all three races is the Whimple Cricket Pavilion. Dates are 14th, 21st and 28th February and entries close 7 days before each race(no entry on the line). See BC Calendar for full details: GO THERE>>>

THE WORLD MASTERS CYCLO-CROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS

The World Masters Cyclo-Cross Championships take place at Mol, east of Antwerp, in Belgium, on Saturday 24th January 2004. For the first time, the UCI Masters Commission has agreed to include a separate category for Men 65+ (born in 1939 or earlier) provided there are at least 6 entrants. There are 11 categories in total, eight for men, in five year age bands starting at 30-34 (born 1970-74), and three for women in ten year age bands. Entrants must have a full UCI recognised licence, and must not have competed in a UCI registered Senior/Elite men's or women's cyclo-cross event in the current season. Entries can be accepted on the line up to one hour before the start of each race. For further details and full timetable, go to the UCI web site at GO THERE>>>

With making helmets compulsory for cyclists now being discussed in the corridors of Westminster, British Cycling has issued the following positional statement regarding its position on the wearing of helmets.

“British Cycling considers that hard shell helmets are a necessity in all events run under our technical regulations. British Cycling recommends the use of these helmets for leisure riding but recognises the right of each individual to chose whether or not to accept this recommendation.”

OFF-ROAD ROUND-UP

It's round 4 of the popular Midlands BMX winter series at Ringwood Park, Staveley, Chesterfield on Sunday. It's also a joint regional with the North, so will have riders traveling from outside of the local area making this one of the biggest winter events on the calendar. BSX racing will also be catered for and should prove a popular choice due to the fast downhill straights and wall of death first corner. Organiser is Beverley Tuffs 01246 477613 email: chesterfield_bmx@hotmail.com, Web www.chesterfieldbmxclub.com

Braintree Bullets BMX Club (Deanery Hill, Braintree)will host a round of the East Anglia winter BMX series on Sunday. Please check www.bmxeast.com or call the EA hotline before traveling, due to the adverse weather of late: 01449 722115. Organiser is Julie Watts 01376 346523, email braintree@bulletproof.co.uk or Julieannwatts@aol.com Web www.braintreebmx.netfirms.com

MIDLAND SUPER SERIES www.superseries.net

The Midland Downhill series has one change of date. Rounds 4 and 5 have moved forward a week to July 3-4 Rhyd-Y-Felin, Llangynog

NPS DOWNHILL www.npsdownhill.co.uk

NPS Downhill promoter Dave Morgan has changed 2 venues due to the unforeseen unavailability of Cwmcarn. Combe Sydenham is still to be confirmed as round 5.

It's the first round of the eagerly awaited Midlands Winter Downhill series this weekend. See below for event information: Format Pre entry only. Practice 8.30am until 10.30am Racing 11.00am until finish - January 18, Bringewood , Winter Round 1

PROBIKESPORT WINTER SERIES

It's the final round of the Probikesport winter series this weekend, and we've heard it's Neil's final event as organiser. We wish him well and look forward to Innerleithen hosting further events. Format 1 timed run on 3 tracks. Practice Saturday 10.30am until 3.30pm. Practice Sunday 9.00am until 11.30am. Racing 12 Midday. Details: January 17-18, Innerleithen, Winter round 3, Contact Neil Stoddart, 01896 830880 Email: race@probikesport.com

SOGGY BOTTOM CROSS COUNTRY SERIES

Carlton TV will be filming this weekend's third round of a successful new series. So if you want your face on TV or fancy a chat with the new 2004 NPS XC and Trek 6,4,2 Enduro promoter, Martyn Salt, then Plymouth is the place to be. Details: January 18, Newnham, Round 3, Contact Martyn Salt Tel: 01752 344517, Email: soggybottom@inevent.co.uk or Sallie Burnham Tel: 01392 276122 Email: coaching@sallieburnham.co.uk

It's great to see variety returning to the Cross Country scene. See below for provisional dates and venues for an all new Dragon Cross Country series in 2004.

Contact Nick Stevens Tel: 07792 343531 Email:mountainbiking@welshcyclingunion.com

LIVE IN CUMBRIA AND WANT TO BE COACHED?

If there are any road riders would like to be coached by one of British Cycling's trainee coaches in the Ulverston (Cumbria) area, contact Paul Evans on develop.nw@britishcycling.org.uk, t.0161 274 2128 or m.07793844651 for more details.

GB CYCLING TEAM - 2004 SQUAD ANNOUNCED

British Cycling has announced the 2004 GB Cycling Team of Lottery Funded riders and Elite Affiliates (riders funded by their own teams, but receiving coaching and other support from the GB setup - marked with *).

ENDURANCE MEN

ROAD

Espoir Women's Road Race Championship Date/venue change: 12th September, Beaulieu, Hants.

Junior Women's Road Race Championship Date/venue change: 12th September, Beaulieu, Hants.

I-Team Women’s Road Race(BC Reynolds/Lemond National Womens Road Race Series 28th March)

ROAD CALENDAR ADDITIONAL EVENTS

TRACK LEAGUE CALENDAR ADDITIONAL EVENTS

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