Nikki sets out double target after she gets call-up for GB world squad

NIKKI Harris is celebrating after being selected to ride for Great Britain at the World Cyclo-Cross Championships.

And she has launched 2009 by declaring two big aims – to become cyclo-cross world champion and to gain selection for Britain in the road race for the 2012 London Olympics.

Harris knows becoming world champion this time around is highly unlikely – but her selection for the highlight of the cyclo-cross calendar, to be held in Hoogerheide, Holland, at the end of this month, is the reward she hoped for when she undertook a fresh commitment to cycling's winter discipline this season.

Harris, from Draycott, who was 22 at the turn of the year, has been winning national age group titles in cyclo-cross and mountain biking since she was 14.

She was part of Great Britain's track squad a couple of years ago but became disillusioned with the velodrome regime and returned to her favourite cycling discipline this season – moving out to Belgium full-time to do so.

A string of excellent performances – including a race win – have followed in the country in which cyclo-cross is virtually the national sport, attracting huge crowds.

Now Harris hopes to attract the attention of potential sponsors at a time when cycling is enjoying its highest profile in Britain for many years in the wake of the sport's success at the Olympics.

She plans to race on the road this summer when the cyclo-cross season ends.

"I have a clear idea of what I want out of my cycling now," said Harris.

"I want to achieve my goals of being cyclo-cross world champion and riding the Olympic road race for Great Britain in 2012.

"It would be great to get a sponsor on board that could help me out with that.

"I think I would be able to promote them at the same time, because cyclo-cross is massive in Belgium.

"It's on TV all the time, in the papers and magazines.

"It's like football is to England and, also, with cycling becoming much bigger in Britain because of the Olympics, I think a company could really get something out of being involved.

"Even just a little help would mean a lot."

Harris currently has some financial help from the Dave Rayner fund, the successful charity which helps to back young British riders in continental racing.

Although she had to miss the recent British national championship race with illness, Harris has been making real progress in the cyclo-cross season in Belgium, riding for the Wielerteam De Sprinters Malderen team.

"Belgium has been going much better than I could have hoped, considering that I've only been back with cyclo-cross since October," she said.

"Over the Christmas period, especially, I made a real step up in my racing.

"I've had some great opportunities, being able to compete with the best girls in the world every week, which really pushes you."

She has also been helped with training by former world cyclo-cross champion Danny de Bie and his wife Nicolle, another top Belgian rider.

"I really gained a lot of confidence and have been improving every time I've raced," she said.

"I was looking forward to racing at the British national championships, because my form had been great.

"I had been fifth the weekend before in a UCI women's race in Teuveren – and then I came down with a chest infection which meant I was laid up in bed at home in Derby all week on antibiotics.

"That really wasn't what I wanted."

Still feeling the effects somewhat, Harris nonetheless came a respectable 20th in a mud-bath at the latest round of the cyclo-cross World Cup, in Roubaix, France, at the weekend.

At the end of January, she is off to Holland for the World Championships, with the women's race scheduled for Sunday, February 1.

And, after that, there is still three weeks of cyclo-cross still to race in Belgium before the season ends.

"After the cross season finishes, I will have a break and then plan everything this year for the cross next season," said Harris. "Then I will be racing on the road this summer with my new Dutch team, Moving Ladies."