AusCycling CX National Series 2024 preview
Two new locations, new tyre regulations and a zombie headline changes in 2024
Welcome to CX Down Under’s preview of the AusCycling Cyclo-cross National Series (CXNS) for 2024. There’s a whole lot of quality racing to look forward to this year across six rounds of National Series racing in Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney, before the series concludes at the National Championships in Ballarat in mid-August.
There are a number of changes to this year’s CXNS, including the introduction of a couple of new race locations, the return of an old favourite and the introduction of new rules around tyre and handlebar width for non-UCI racers. Let’s dive into the changes!
These tyres and wide bars would previously have been disallowed in age-group races in the CXNS, but that will change in 2024.
Photo: @rideadelaide
New tyre and handlebar regulations for 2024
Photo: AusCycling
We posted an article debating the arguments for possibly expanding the maximum allowed tyre width for CX racing on CX Down Under a couple of weeks ago, and it certainly struck a nerve, sparking off some of the most extensive (but thoughtful) debate we’ve ever seen on CXDU.
Now a couple of weeks later AusCycling have announced the technical regulations for CX in 2024 as part of the National Series Guide, and there are changes that will apply to the majority of riders who’ll participate in this year’s CXNS.
Rule changes for non-UCI grades (all Masters grades, as well as Experts, U13s, U15s and U17s)
The big news here is that maximum tyre widths for riders in non-UCI categories (all Masters grades, as well as Experts, U13s, U15s and U17s) have now been increased to 42mm from the previous limit of 35mm. This will hopefully mean fewer headaches for riders who would otherwise need to swap tyres to race ‘cross, as well as making it easier for folks riding gravel bikes with stock tyres to give CX a try.
It will still be legal (and in many cases faster) to ride tyres closer to 33mm in width, but this change will hopefully help lower the barrier of entry for new riders, especially given that supply shortages have meant it’s become increasingly hard to find narrower CX tyres in stock.
Additionally, there's now no limit on the width of drop handlebars that can be used in competition, meaning that even Curve's outrageous 60cm Walmer bar is legal for competition, if not necessarily a great idea for threading through tight gaps.
Rule clarifications for UCI grades (Elite, U19s and U23s)
Riders in UCI-recognised categories have also had their technical regulations clarified, including a maximum measured tyre width of 33mm and a maximum handlebar width of 50cm.
One distinction is that the tyre width of 33mm for these categories is the measured width of the tyre rather than the width stamped on the side. Riders in these categories will need to measure their tyres once they’re seated on the rim to ensure they’re not over the allowed limits, as it’s common for the wider rim beds in modern wheelsets to result in a measured width greater than the width printed on the tyre.
These regulations are the UCI standards, and haven't changed this year, but will hopefully make it easier for riders to know what will and won’t be allowed in competition at the National Series.
Other notes and clarifications
There are other clarifications about the requirements for bikes to be raced in the CXNS this year, and in general they range from banning items that are rarely used in the discipline (such as winter tyres with metal studs or aerobars) through to restrictions that while affecting some riders are nevertheless logical (such as the banning of e-bikes).
One more note for tracklocross folks: fixed rear hubs are off the menu, so you'll need a bike with a freewheel in order to compete.
If you want to study the CX National Series Guide in full, you can read that here.
Now that you know your bike needs to have to race - where will you be racing?
The wide bars that Lillee Pollock used in the U23 Women’s race at the 2022 AusCycling CX National Championships would still be illegal in Elite, U23 or U19 races, but would now be allowable for racing in non-UCI categories.
Photo: @ogaram
Rounds 1 & 2
Where: GS Kingston Park/Wirrarninthi
(a.k.a. Zombie Park), Adelaide, SA
When: May 25th-26th
The Adelaide race weekend is moving closer to the city, shifting from the Adelaide Superdrome in the northern suburb of Gepps Cross to GS Kingston Park- nicknamed 'Zombie Park' due to its proximity to the West Terrace Cemetery - on the western edge of the CBD.
Zombie Park previously hosted the Australian CX National Championships in 2016 and 2017 - including one of the wettest race days ever seen Down Under - but hasn't been used as a race course by Port Adelaide Cycling Club since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Adrian Jackson (L) and Chris Aitken (R) take two different approaches to the barrier at the CX National Championships in 2017.
Photo: @ogaram
When last used the course was a fantastically well-balanced mix of slick grassy corners, straight power sections and the infamous 'swing tree' - a challenging hairpin turn where riders negotiate a steep downhill, make a right-hand turn around a tree (possibly grabbing a branch for support), before sprinting uphill and remounting.
From there it’s about a minute of furious pedalling before the lap’s finish and a chance to do it all again.
Once your race is over you can hose yourself off, grab a sausage from the BBQ run every year by the Trott Park Fencing Club and join in on the heckling.
You can enter Saturday's round 1 here: https://entryboss.cc/races/20509
You can enter Sunday's round 2 here: https://entryboss.cc/races/20510
Although most of the course is grassy, there are still a couple of loose gravel corners to negotiate, as shown by (L-R) Adrian Jackson, Chris Aitken, Tom Chapman and Garry Millburn in 2017.
Photo: @ogaram
The Swing Tree at Zombie Park necessitated some creative cornering at the CX National Championships in 2017.
Photo: @ogaram
When the heavens open, the course can quickly turn into a mud bog, as a barely recognisable Chris Jongewaard demonstrates.
Photo: @ogaram
Rounds 3 & 4
Where: Victoria Park/Barrambin, Herston, QLD
When: June 15th-16th
The CXNS will head north to the Sunshine State for rounds 3 & 4 on June 15th and 16th, with RATS CC set to host a weekend's racing at Victoria Park/Barrambin, 3km north of the Brisbane CBD.
The former municipal golf course hasn't previously hosted rounds of the CX National Series, but has hosted rounds of the AusCycling Queensland CX State Series for each of the past two years.
The course is likely to be grassy and fairly hilly, with riders needing to use all of their gears to get the most out of their efforts.
You can enter Saturday's round 3 here: https://entryboss.cc/races/20513
You can enter Sunday's round 4 here: https://entryboss.cc/races/20516
The Victoria Park course’s gentle slopes and numerous trees create a striking visual for those competing.
Photo: Matt Dale
Congestion at the barriers at Victoria Park early in the Women’s A Grade race.
Photo: Matt Dale
The course’s sandpit (or should that be bunker?) was enough to cause a few problems for riders last year.
Photo: Matt Dale
Rounds 5 & 6
Where: Heffron Park, Maroubra, NSW
When: July 20th-21st
The final race weekend of the 2024 CXNS will take place at the cycling hub of Heffron Park, located 10km south-east of Sydney's CBD in the suburb of Maroubra.
Although Heffron Park is most well known among the cycling community for hosting criterium racing on its paved track, it has also previously hosted last year's opening round of the NSW & ACT State CX Series, as well as the NSW/ACT State Championships.
The parkland is fairly flat and normally dry with some sandy sections, and racers can expect to see a few transitions between the tarmac of the criterium track and the surrounding grassy fields.
With Maroubra Beach a 5 minute spin away, some riders might even be tempted to have a post-race swim instead of an ice bath!
Charles Wheeler powers through a sandy section at the 2023 AusCycling NSW State CX Championships.
Photo: @the_budge
Although the course is in suburban Sydney, it’s still possible to do a bit of bush bashing.
Photo: Richard Scriven
Some of the course’s grassy embankments helped provide a moody backdrop to the opening round of the 2023 AusCycling NSW & ACT State CX Series.
Photo: Richard Scriven
National Championships
Where: Victoria Park, Ballarat
When: August 17th
The 2024 AusCycling Cyclo-cross National Championships will be held at Victoria Park in Ballarat, which also hosted the 2023 Nationals and two rounds of the CXNS in 2022. The course is on the western edge of Ballarat, just under two hours drive west of Melbourne.
We’re expecting the course to be similar to those two tracks: flat, cold and muddy. Even if you don’t normally need a pair of mud tyres to race locally, we’d definitely recommend investing in them if you’re thinking about coming to Nationals!
While we’re on the topic of recommendations, we’d also advise booking your bike in with your friendly local mechanic after that race weekend - otherwise you’ll make the same mistake we did and wind up with a bike sounding like it fell down a flight of stairs!
There will be a UCI C2 race held at the same track the following day, which will be the first UCI-sanctioned CX race to be held in Australia (outside of the national championships) since the last Fields of Joy race was held at at the Victorian State Motorcycle Centre in Broadford in 2019.
No entry links are available for either event at this time, but keep an eye on the CX Ballarat website as the season progresses for updates.
Conditions were especially filthy at the 2023 CX National Championships.
Photo: @shotbyleealexand3r
Katherine Hosking powers through the slop on her way to winning the Elite Women’s national title.
Photo: @shotbyleealexand3r
People’s champ Rob Doyle resorts to running through the thick mud at the 2023 CX National Championships.
Photo: @shotbyleealexand3r
Disclosure: CX Down Under editor Tom McQuillan has been appointed National CX Series Director for 2024 by AusCycling, and will be assisting in the preparation, delivery and review of this year’s CX National Series events.
He would appreciate it if you turned up to the races please and thank you.