WORCESTERSHIRE’S Liam Killeen revealed he was stripped of his British Cycling National Trophy Cyclo-Cross triumph in Bradford after a mix-up in the pit lane.

The 33-year-old said he rode into the pit lane to change his mud-laden bike but returned on the same machine because there wasn’t a clean one waiting for him.

Killeen was first home in the elite men’s race only to be disqualified for the minor technical infringement.

Without being able to change his bike, the Malvern Olympian had transgressed the Union Cycliste Internationale cyclo-cross regulation 5.1.038.

The regulation says: “A rider may only take the pit lane to change his bicycle, wheel(s) or for other mechanical assistance”.

Killeen said: “I was leading in the penultimate lap when I rode into the pits and dismounted, stopping for a number of seconds expecting to change my bike. But there was no clean bike waiting for me and so I returned to the course on my mud-laden bike. Afterwards, I learned the jet wash had failed.”

Elite series leader Ian Field, who finished second, was installed as the victor.

Killeen added: “There was no advantage to be gained by interrupting a lap, finding I was short of a clean bike and then pedalling onwards on a heavily-muddied bike.

“My rhythm was disrupted and I wondered whether there would be a clean bike in the next pit. However, technically, I had infringed the UCI cyclo-cross regulation.”

Fellow county cyclist Evie Richards powered to victory in the elite women’s race.