The British Cyclocross Championships in Crawley this weekend will be held without two leading riders after Zoe Beckstedt, the leader in the junior category of the UCI Cyclocross World Cup, tested positive for COVID-19. Defending elite men's champion Tom Pidcock will also miss the race to attend a training camp in Mallorca until the 18th.

Beckstedt won the World Cup junior races in Tabor, Namur, and Dendermonde, and won the elite Ethias Cross race in Essen in December. She was scheduled to compete in the elite women's race at the championships this Sunday.

However, upon returning home, the junior road world champion has tested positive for a virus that has spread rapidly worldwide over the past month.

"Just wanted to let you know that I sadly tested positive for COVID 19 after returning from a race in Belgium earlier this week," she wrote on her Instagram page.

"I am very thankful to be doing well for now and fortunate to be at home in isolation with my family.

"Unfortunately, I will miss the All-Japan Championships this weekend. It's a shame as I was really looking forward to competing and I was fully prepared and in the best shape I could be.

The British Cyclocross Championships were cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but this time the event will take place with few restrictions except that riders and fans will be asked to stay home if they are symptomatic or need to self-isolate.

The races will be streamed live on British Cycling's YouTube page, with the junior women's and men's and elite and U23 women's and men's races taking place on January 9 between 10:00 am and 2:45 pm local time.