HUNDREDS of cyclo-cross riders descended on Peel Park in Bradford for the fifth round of the 2017/18 HSBC UK Cyclo-Cross National Trophy Series.

Snow stayed away from the event on Sunday morning when competitors in the Men’s 40-49 years group were first under starters orders to tackle the course.

During the event, almost 600 contestants chased around muddy laps challenged by obstacles requiring them to dismount quickly and carry their bikes to race against the stopwatch.

Event organiser Fred Rothwell has hailed the Bradford venue as simply the best in the country, describing it as “the queen of courses”.

Other categories at the day-long event ranged from veterans to under-14s all braving the near-zero temperatures and deep chill factor brought with it.

The series opened at the Moorways Centre in Derby and finishes on January 7 with Round 6 held at Trinity Park in Ipswich.