In pictures: glorious mud at the 2018 world cyclo-cross championships

In pictures: glorious mud at the 2018 world cyclo-cross championships

If there was one defining characteristic to all the races at this year’s world cyclo-cross championships, it was the muddy conditions they were run in

Ben Tulett cycle-cross cyclo cross world championships Evie Richards Racing Sanne Cant Wout van Aert

It happens often enough in cyclo-cross. But regardless of how familiar riders get with racing in it, muddy conditions are always sure to throw a spanner in the works.  

“For me, the mud was a deciding factor in all of the races at this year’s worlds,” says photographer Chris Auld. “For any rider who got a bad start it was almost impossible to come back from. The mud was so cloying it was hard to put the power down.”

No wonder then that the muddy conditions became the pre-occupative theme for Auld when shooting across the preparation and two competition days of the championships in Valkenburg. 

“It amazes me how the bikes still work with all of the mud clogging up the moving parts, not to mention how impressive the riders are just pedalling through the stuff, never mind staying upright.” 

Not that they managed that all the time. In this collection of pictures, Auld turns his attention to the thrills, spills and general chaos of racing, and even just warming-up, in such conditions.

World Cross Championships 2018, Chris Auld

World Cross Championships 2018, Chris Auld

World Cross Championships 2018, Chris Auld

World Cross Championships 2018, Chris Auld

World Cross Championships 2018, Chris Auld

Read: When Robert Millar tried cyclo-cross 

World Cross Championships 2018, Chris Auld

World Cross Championships 2018, Chris Auld

World Cross Championships 2018, Chris Auld

World Cross Championships 2018, Chris Auld

Read: When the cyclo-Cross world championships came to Crystal Palace

World Cross Championships 2018, Chris Auld

World Cross Championships 2018, Chris Auld

World Cross Championships 2018, Chris Auld

World Cross Championships 2018, Chris Auld

World Cross Championships 2018, Chris Auld

World Cross Championships 2018, Chris Auld

World Cross Championships 2018, Chris Auld

Read: It’s the pits – inside cyclo-cross’ technical area

World Cross Championships 2018, Chris Auld

World Cross Championships 2018, Chris Auld

World Cross Championships 2018, Chris Auld

World Cross Championships 2018, Chris Auld

World Cross Championships 2018, Chris Auld

World Cross Championships 2018, Chris Auld

Read: Rainbows in the mud – Britain’s first cyclo-cross world champion

World Cross Championships 2018, Chris Auld

World Cross Championships 2018, Chris Auld

World Cross Championships 2018, Chris Auld

World Cross Championships 2018, Chris Auld

World Cross Championships 2018, Chris Auld

World Cross Championships 2018, Chris Auld

World Cross Championships 2018, Chris Auld

 

 

The post In pictures: glorious mud at the 2018 world cyclo-cross championships appeared first on The world's finest cycling magazine.

Ben Tulett cycle-cross cyclo cross world championships Evie Richards Racing Sanne Cant Wout van Aert

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