Photo Gallery: AusCycling Cyclocross National Series 2021: Rd 1 (Adelaide)
The opening round of the 2021 AusCycling Cyclocross National Series was held over the weekend in a course that started in the shadows of the Adelaide Superdrome and weaved its way around the nearby Foresters Forest (not a typo - that’s the real name). The course was fast and dusty - definitely one for file tread tyres!
While a COVID-19 outbreak in Melbourne would mean that there was no significant Victorian contingent of racers present - or any boots on the ground from those at CX Down Under HQ - James Raison (@rideadelaide) gave us permission to use his shots from the weekend. Check them out below - he’s done a great job!
Morning Masters Racing
The morning saw racing from all the Men’s Masters grades, as well as Women’s Masters 5-8, Expert Men and Junior Men.
Women’s Elite, Expert, Juniors, and Masters 1-4
The penultimate race of the day saw the Women’s Elite field start off first, with age group racers setting out close behind. The Women’s Elite race was dominated by 19 year-old Isabella Flint (Roxsolt Liv SRAM), a former Junior Women’s XCO MTB national champion and first-time CX rider, who won by a convincing 2’14” from Kate Mathewson (Team InSeight carried by KYST), with fellow youngster Talia Simpson (Keystone Projects) taking third a further 27 seconds back.
Men’s Elite
The last race of day 1 was the Men’s Elite race, which saw reigning South Australian state CX champion Cam Ivory (Trek-Shimano Australia) dart out to an early lead, before he crashed while attempting to jump the barriers with 3 laps to go. He was passed by reigning Unofficial, Unsanctioned Australian E-CX Champion Chris Aitken (MAAP CX Australia) shortly thereafter, with Tom Chapman (Team BridgeLane). Despite a spirited chase to the line, Aitken was able to hold the gap to the line, eventually winning by 9 seconds over Ivory, with Chapman in third.
