cycling: Otley’s Tom Pidcock, despite not having competed for a month, won the Telenet UCI World Cup men’s under-23 cyclo-cross race in Namur, Belgium yesterday.

It was the Telenet Fidea Lions rider’s third World Cup victory of the season after successes at Bogense and Koksijde, but it was hard earned.

The 18-year-old had to pass the leaders inside the final two laps of a course that was notable for its steep climbs and descents.

Pidcock, pictured, eventually won by 16 seconds from the home nation’s Eli Iserbyt, with Frenchman Lucas Dubau a further 34 seconds adrift in third.

Of the other Britons, Dan Tulett was 25th, former Paul Milnes rider Ben Turner 27th and Frazer Clacherty 36th, with Thomas Mein and Cameron Orr being among five not to finish.

Eldwick’s Sophie Thackray, making her World Cup debut after a string of fine domestic performances, was 51st in the women’s race, which was headed by Britons Evie Richards and Nikki Brammier, who was riding in memory of Sharon Laws, who has died of cancer aged 43.