Photo Gallery: AusCycling Cyclocross National Series 2021: Rd 2 (Adelaide)
After a fast and dusty opening round of the 2021 AusCycling Cyclocross National Series last Saturday, racers returned on Sunday for another crack at the Adelaide Superdrome course - though this time in reverse. It’s always tough backing up for day 2 of a double header, and with a descent off a sandy hill and plenty of loose corners to contend with, Sunday’s course kept plenty of riders on their toes.
NOTE: 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.
Our correspondent unfortunately missed the race for Mens and Womens Masters 5-8 racing earlier in the morning, so these images are from the wave of races that included Mens Masters 1-4, 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. For the second day in a row it was Isabella Flint (Roxsolt Liv SRAM) who took the win, with Adelaide local Amber Pate (Focus x Pedla) finishing second after completing a madison in the Adelaide Track League meet the Friday before!
Kate Mathewson (Team InSeight carried by KYST) followed up her second place on Saturday with a third on Sunday, Stacey Huysmans (née Riedel) of MAAP CX Australia improved to fourth after finishing fifth the day before, and Sarah Holmes (Team InSeight carried by KYST) rounded out the wide angle podium in fifth.
Men’s Elite
The last race of the weekend saw a wire-to-wire win for Adelaide’s own Tom Chapman (Team BridgeLane), with the second and third steps of the podium filled by Cam Ivory (Trek-Shimano Australia) and Chris Aitken (MAAP CX Australia) respectively, both around a minute back. Fourth and fifth on the day went to Focus x Pedla teammates Matt Bird and Griffin Knight, who crossed the line within two seconds of each other.
Just off the podium was Tristan Nash of WA, who finished 6th on Sunday to go with 9th on Saturday, all in his first two cracks at the Elite level at the age of just 18. One to watch for the future…
