Bec Locke goes back-to-back at AusCycling CX National Series despite wrong turn
Tristan Nash (Unicorn Racing Australia) kicks up some dust while cornering.
Photo: CX Down Under
The second round of the 2023 AusCycling National Series saw Tristan Nash (Unicorn Racing Australia) and Rebecca Locke take repeat victories in the Elite Men’s and Elite Women’s races respectively - though Locke’s second win was not without drama, as the national champion had to battle back from last place after taking a wrong turn in the race’s opening moments.
Tristan Nash (Unicorn Racing Australia) lays down the watts on one of the course’s grassy climbs.
Photo: CX Down Under
The Course
The Garvey Park circuit on Whadjuk country in eastern Perth had been changed in a few key ways for the second racing day of the weekend, and featured a grassy start loop of around 1200m before riders set out on the course in a clockwise direction.
It wasn’t just the Normandy section that was sandy - several other corners on the course provided loose conditions for riders.
Photo: CX Down Under
After passing the finish line for the first time, riders had to negotiate a tricky section of technical climbs, descents and corners near the staircase early in the lap.
Phil de Gruchy’s face is a picture of concentration as he rides a steep descent before the course’s staircase.
Photo: CX Down Under
The course’s two long sand sections - known as ‘Normandy’ to locals - had also been altered, with the first section being flatter and more rideable for those without the power of the racers in the Elite categories.
The longer second section had a more hard-packed entry than the previous day, which allowed riders to carry more speed into the sand before needing to pick the right rut to follow. The number of riders who were able to ride the whole section without dismounting was still small, but most racers were able to make it much further through the sand before having to dismount than on day 1.
The day’s long sand sections prompted a number of different line choices from riders. (L-R) Cam de Campi, Josh Sek, Eric Vetisch & Rory Larsson.
Photo: CX Down Under
Elite Women
Rebecca Locke secured her second victory of the weekend in the Elite Women’s race, but it wasn’t without its dramas, as a wrong turn on the 1200m start loop saw the national champion fall to last place within the first minute of racing, while a group including Fiona Morris (MAAP Sixpence CX), Zoe Davison (Wembley Cycles), Andrea Coleman and Mikayla Smith opened up a gap of 20 seconds by the time the race first passed the staircase about a quarter of the way into the first full lap.
Although Locke’s deficit was initially substantial, she was able to work her way through the field and eventually crossed the line first, leading home Fiona Morris by 49 seconds, with Zoe Davison finishing 2:03 back in third.
Speaking with CX Down Under after the race, a sheepish Locke said ‘At the start loop I didn’t really know where the course went - I went hard left which wasn’t the right way.’
‘I just tried to stay calm and not actually go too hard - I have a habit of trying to get back across really quickly and I end up blowing myself up, so I just stayed calm and kinda tapped myself to get back to the front.’
‘I was hurting today - I was a bit tired from yesterday - but I jumped on Fi’s [Fiona Morris] wheel for a bit. That gave me a bit of time to recover and then as soon as we hit the sand section I was able to get away a little bit.’
Morris would keep the green and gold jersey closer in sight than on Saturday, losing around 15 seconds per lap to Locke over the final three laps, but doing enough to ensure that third placed Zoe Davison never had a realistic chance of catching her.
Davison was in turn challenged by Mikayla Smith and former age group national champion Andrea Coleman, who finished in 4th and 5th place respectively after challenging for the lead in the initial stages.
Mikayla Smith wasn’t afraid to push the tape in search of firmer ground through the course’s second sand section.
Photo: CX Down Under
Elite Men
The Elite Men’s race looked initially to be a more evenly matched affair at the outset, with no riders able to gain separation through the grassy start loop or the technical section around the course’s staircase. The leading trio from Saturday’s race - Tristan Nash, Garry Millburn (MAAP Sixpence CX) and Chris Aitken (MAAP Sixpence CX) - came into the first sand section of the course in single file, with a gap of around 5 seconds to Nick Smith (Flanders-FMB).
Nash began to edge away as the group hit the second sand section, and his gap to the chasing Millburn and Aitken began to grow, eventually reaching a margin of 2:32 over Millburn at the finish line, with Aitken another 28 seconds back in third.
In a post-race interview Nash said ‘It started off pretty fast and furious - the MAAP [Sixpence CX] boys wanted to make it challenging from the start so we had a bit of a tussle there.’
Nash said ‘I was a bit worried when I was doing the course recon because the sand was a bit faster and it was a lot easier to ride. I knew that was going to be a disadvantage for myself, but there were still some quite tricky and technical areas so I knew that riding cleanly would be the name of the game.’
‘I managed to jump in front before the sand again…it stayed mostly together for the first lap and I was then able to get into more of a rhythm and edge out the gap.’
That gap would increase as the race progressed, with Nash not only laying down the fastest lap of the day on lap 1, but staying remarkably consistent throughout - the remainder of his laps would range from 8:57 to 9:06 in duration, no mean feat in a race of an hour’s length.
Garry Millburn (L) and Chris Aitken (R) pursue Tristan Nash through the long grass at Garvey Park.
Photo: CX Down Under
Chris Aitken appeared to be the stronger of the two MAAP Sixpence CX riders in the first two laps and seemed likely to repeat his second place from Saturday, but unlike the day before did not get stronger as the race progressed. Aitken’s teammate Garry Millburn overtook him on lap 3 and gradually gained time over him for the remainder of the race.
Behind the leading trio Nick Smith would hold fourth position throughout, entertaining a well-lubricated crowd at the Nowhereman Brewing Company bar by bunnyhopping the barriers each lap.
Nick Smith (Duke-Flanders) gets aerial over the barriers on the final lap of the day.
Photo: CX Down Under
The final spot on the wide angle podium would go to local rider Lewis Blackie (FGHTCLB.CC), who was heartily cheered around the course, especially by the large crowd that gathered at the ‘Normandy’ sand sections.
Lewis Blackie sticks a sandy rut early in the lap on day 2.
Photo: CX Down Under
The event organisers (from L-R: Ben Nash, Mark Matear, Louise Carson, Tanya Matear, Mandy McEvoy and Steuart Carson) come forward to receive the appreciation of the crowd after the final presentations.
Photo: CX Down Under
You can find the full list of the day’s results at: https://results.sporthive.com/events/PC2217245
The AusCycling Cyclocross National Series will resume at the Adelaide Superdrome on Saturday and Sunday June 3rd and 4th, hosted by Port Adelaide Cycling Club. You can find information about those races and submit your entry here:
Saturday: https://entryboss.cc/races/15395
Sunday: https://entryboss.cc/races/15396