Crosstober Wales will come to Abergavenny this weekend, and the two days of racing held on the grounds of King Henry VIII School looks set to boast all the thrills, spills, and top drawer racing fans of cyclo-cross have come to expect.

Current Under 23 World Champion Evie Richards is racing in the Women’s Elite, and current British Champion Liam Killeen will be racing against top class competitors from Belgium, the Channel Islands, USA and Ireland in the Men’s Elite.

With 74 entries confirmed in the Elite Men’s race, this is one of the strongest fields to compete in the UK for a long time.

The senior men’s and women competition for the National Trophy race on Sunday will have an international and World Championship flavour.

Belgium’s Yorben Van Tichelt won the first National Series in Derby and he will be in the series leader’s jersey following victory in October in the first round of the National Trophy held at Derby. Jan Denuwelaere is another top Belgium rider who will also be competing in the men’s race. Travelling from the USA, Jeremy Durrin is a regular competitor in major competitions throughout the world, and Ireland’s David Conroy is a first year senior, who also raced as a Junior in last year’s Worlds.

In the women’s race there is a chance to see current U23 World Champion Evie Richards race in the coveted Rainbow Jersey.

Event organisers Abergavenny RC also have a great night lined up on Saturday in Abergavenny Leisure Centre as they present Crosstober after dark.

Host Matt Payne will be speaking with Simon Burney.

Since 2007 Simon has worked as a Technical Delegate for the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) and is currently the Sports coordinator for Cross County Mountain Bike. He has written a popular book which is on its third edition entitled Cyclocross: Training and Technique.

Simon will be joined by Isla Rowntree who will be talking about her career and the new Islabikes Imagine Project.

International Commissaire Ian Poole will be sharing his experiences from around the World.

Joining these fantastic guests, will be Welsh cyclocross legend Graham Edwards who will explain how cyclocross started in Abergavenny and how the event has evolved in the past 16 years.

The event is free and takes place this Saturday between 6.30pm to 8.30pm.