Sussex cyclo-cross stars James Dear and Jonathan Sharpe both know that the second round of the Sussex Cyclo-Cross League will be a crucial one.

Friston rider Dear (In Gear) is a former league winner but in recent years he has been concentrating on road events.

During the summer he decided to make a serious bid for the cyclo-cross title again.

He built his stamina up and his road wins included the South-Eastern 25 and Bognor Regis 50.

In the first round of the Sussex League at East Grinstead he beat Sharpe to take the overall lead and he is currently lying second in the London League.

Brighton rider Sharpe (Boreas) has won the Sussex League four times in the past and he is the reigning champion.

Sharpe's cyclo-cross season got off to a slow start, but he is now showing signs of better form and at the weekend he finished fifth in an open event in Hounslow which was won by New Zealander Warwick Spence.

If he can beat Dear in Wild Park on Sunday then the title could depend on the result of the following week's third and final round at Lancing Manor.

The Brighton Excelsior club are promoting Sunday's meeting.

The Wild Park course has fast stretches and some steep climbs including one where riders will have to dismount and scramble up a slope carrying their bikes. The meeting starts at 11am with three races for juveniles.

The under-10s will race over an easier course while the hour-long main event is at 1pm and riders will receive points for both the Sussex and London leagues. All races can be entered on the day.

Helen Carter and Lisa Griffiths of Eastbourne Rovers have both ridden well in the women's Rudy Project national time trial series, won by Julia Shaw (GS Strada) with 326 points. Carter finished fourth with 310 points and Griffiths equal ninth with 230.

The annual general meeting of the Sussex CA takes place on Sunday at Wivelsfield Village Hall (11am).