SKIPTON’S Ian Taylor is still coming to terms with being a world masters cyclo-cross champion at the first attempt.

The 44-year-old won the 45-49 crown at Mol in Belgium in a time of 42min 48sec, last month

He finished 18 seconds ahead of his nearest challenger, experienced American rider Mark Savery.

Although this was a masters event, age was very much on Taylor’s said: “You enter and they put you in a category. I thought I would be in a 40-44 category but was put in the 45-49 group.

“Being one of the youngest was a help because age does make a difference. Sometimes things are just meant to be and I guess that things went my way."

Looking back at the race, Taylor recalled: “The American Mark Savery had won before and had also finished third. There were some tough sandy sections which I chose to run, but he tried to ride.

“As well as one stretch of sand which was about 200 metres long, there was a sandy hill which you had to run up and down.

“The one big difference to racing in Yorkshire was how dry the course was. My brother Andy races in the South of England where the conditions are much drier and he lent me some special wheels with slick tyres and they were a help too.”

He recalled: “As the race progressed I was aware that three of us were clear of the field. When it got down to two you start to think about the difference between winning and coming second.

“As world champion you get to win the rainbow jersey which you can wear for the rest of your life when you are racing.

“On the last lap I was in the lead and I thought to myself that I could win the title. When we got to the final 200 metres I ran as hard as I could and was careful on the steps to make sure I didn’t slip up.

“It was a great feeling to win. I am a world champion but I haven’t ever been a national champion. I have been second a few times, but I have won the national series.”

Taylor was soon brought down to earth after his world title win. Less than 24 hours after winning in Belgium he was back in action at York.

“I was wearing the rainbow jersey for the first time when halfway round the first lap my back wheel came lose and bent the brake hub,” he said.

“There was me running half a lap with the wheel in one hand and the bike in the other as all of the other competitors streamed past me. It wasn’t the best of starts."

Taylor will be back in action on New Year’s Day when he competes in the Novacross race at Knaresborough.

A week later he will be competing at Bradford’s Peel Park in the National Championships. It’s a circuit he knows well but he hasn’t won there and this might be his chance to gain a first national title.

"I don't think I will be using slick tyres there," he joked. "It will definitely be the full mud tyre for that race."

Taylor is going to have a special white bike, with rainbows stripes too, for the occasion. He said: “I thought it would be a nice touch.”

Taylor rides for C and N Cycles from Redhill, the Surrey town where he grew up before moving to Yorkshire 20 years ago.

It is run by Damian Pittock, a long-time friend, who introduced him to cyclo-cross more than 30 years ago.

“I was 13 and a cross country runner,” Taylor pointed out. “Damian leant me his bike which was too big for me and wasn’t a cyclo-cross bike. I was 13 at the time and was a strong runner and I went out and won the race, beating Damian in the process.

Taylor added: “Damian was really thrilled when I won my world title and we are looking forward to next year when I will return to Belgium to defend my title.”