RISING star Hugo Robinson admits he cannot wait to make history as Ipswich hosts Britain’s first-ever European Cyclo-Cross Championships tomorrow.

Double national junior champion Robinson, 17, represents Great Britain’s Under-23s as Chantry Park, one of the UK’s premier cyclo-cross venues, prepares for a historical weekend.

It hosts two big helpings of top Cyclo-Cross action with the 2012 European Championships tomorrow and then the second round of the National Trophy on Sunday.

This will be the first ever time the UK has hosted the European event – one of the most prestigious in the cyclo-cross calendar – and the first international cyclo-cross event staged in Britain since 1992.

“Saturday will be a very important day for British and Ipswich racing. It is a vital step we are taking,” said the Debenham teenager, who competes on both days.

“The eyes of Europe will be on us and I am confident Ipswich can put on a great show.

“It is brilliant for the town. It is an incredibly big couple of days racing we are staging.

“Ipswich is making a name for itself now.

“We held the Tour or Britain in September and other high-class cycling events at Foxhall Stadium and Chantry Park over the years.

“It will be good for the local economy and local community. Hopefully it can motivate more people to take up cycling and get involved with the sport.

“It gets people healthy and more active and people are substituting bikes for cars to get to work and school which is good.

“Ipswich can definitely be a hub for British cyclo-cross in the future.

“Hopefully it will lead to more World Cups coming here over the next few years.

“There should be a great atmosphere. It will be a great weekend of racing.”

Robinson, who started his cycling career with the Ipswich Bicycle Club but now competes for XRT Elmy Cycles, admits he has found his first season in the U23 category challenging.

However, he will be pushing hard for a strong result on home turf on a circuit he knows well – having been crowned national junior champion at Chantry Park for the past two years.