AusCycling Cyclo-cross National Series Preview: Rounds 3 & 4
The AusCycling Cyclo-cross National Series heads to Brisbane this weekend for the second of three race weekends in 2024. The course promises hard, fast and hilly racing on the former Victoria Park golf course, just 1.5km northwest of the Brisbane CBD on Yagera and Turrbal country. Let’s tee off and learn about it!
The course
The course is set on the side of a hill, with the highest point at the southwestern corner and the lowest point in the northeast. Unlike with most cyclocross courses that host double headers, the course won’t be raced in reverse on Sunday’s round 4. Instead an additional loop will be added to the north end of the course on Saturday, with a different and smaller loop to be swapped in for Sunday.
The start and finish lines of the Victoria Park circuit are in different places, with riders starting on a straight on the northern side of the course that takes them into the opposite direction to the finish line. After climbing for 100m to reach the northernmost point of the course, riders will turn right and make their way through some swooping turns before a long straight that runs parallel to Gilchrist Ave.
After reaching the lowest point of the circuit early on that straight, riders begin a steady 400m climb towards the barriers. The entry to the barriers is downhill on both days – making dismounting a bit trickier while also giving those with the skills and bravery to bunnyhop a slightly bigger margin for error.
A left hand turn will take riders into the finishing straight, where they’ll head gradually uphill towards the course’s sandpit, which is positioned only a short distance after the finish line and should be well within view of most spectators.
Max Hobson (in blue) gets loose through the sandpit at the third round of the 2023 QLDCX state series at Victoria Park.
Photo: Matt Dale
Some more steady climbing precedes a 90-degree left hand turn that will take riders into another short descent, which should come as welcome respite after 500m of consistent climbing.
Unfortunately the rest will be short lived, as a right-hand hairpin leads into a long climb that will take riders to the highest point of the course.
A short, steep descent will take riders into the zigzags of ‘Palmageddon’ as they race between the park’s tall palms on the hillside.
Riders’ legs are sure to be burning by this point, so the descent towards the finish line will surely be welcome relief.
The Weather
A famous syaing about Queensland is that it’s ‘beautiful one day, perfect the next.’
Hard to argue with that assessment for this weekend, as the weather forecast is a balmy 22-23 degrees and sunny on both days, and should be an opportunity for cold-weather states to race in short sleeves before they head back to a winter of long-sleeved jerseys and bib tights.
With the weather having been fine throughout the past week in Brisbane, racing conditions should be hard, fast and grassy - no need for mud tyres here!