Cross Hot Cross
by Port Adelaide Cycling Club
Easter Saturday was a sweltering day for a cyclocross race in Adelaide, with temperatures reaching an eye-popping 35 degrees Celsius. It certainly meant that Cross Hot Cross well and truly lived up to its name before the racing even started!
The course twisted and turned its way around the Hanson Reserve Velodrome in Woodville Gardens, with riders negotiating wide grassy corners, barriers, a set of stairs and even (thanks to the liberal use of some sprinklers) some mud!
You can see results from the day on Crossresults here, or see the race happen (as represented by tiny moving dots) on CrossMgr here.
On a personal note, this was my first time attending a cross race in 595 days. It was great to be back on the scene - even if it was a rude shock for the legs!
Although cyclocross is a winter sport, the weather conditions on the day felt more reminiscent of late January than early April.
Photo: @meghanjane91
The kids race is always one of the most popular events at any cyclocross race Down Under, and the Little Crossers event proved to be no exception.
Photo: @carl_purczel
It was all smiles before the start of the Women’s B grade and C grade races.
Photo: @thatbikenerd
The holeshot in women’s B grade was tightly contested between Melanie Hayes (left) and Shelby Johnson of MOOD Racing (right).
Photo: @thatbikenerd
The majority of the race was on the grassy infield of the Hanson Reserve Velodrome. Note the active sprinkler in the top left - both for cooling down overheated riders and helping the course get nice and muddy.
Photo: @thatbikenerd
One of only two interstate riders on the day, Meghan Thomas repped for Victoria by taking the holeshot in women’s C grade.
Photo: @thatbikenerd
The high temperatures meant that handups of (mostly melted) Zooper Doopers were eagerly received by thirsty riders.
Photo: @thatbikenerd
Jessie Martin of MOOD Racing wasn’t too busy to strike a pose on her way to third in Women’s C Grade.
Photo: @carl_purczel
The front end of Men’s C Grade was, to put it simply, a big MOOD. The holeshot was taken by Benny Jansen (in black), followed by his MOOD teammates (from L-R) Ryan Kirby, Robert Grove, Rob Greenwood and Oscar Zhang.
Photo: @thatbikenerd
One of the great benefits of cyclocross is that you can show up and race on just about any bike. Edward Chung was clearly feeling the stoke during his Men’s Open race.
Photo: Amanda Steele
By the time the final race of the day kicked off, the oval’s sprinklers had turned the grassy section near the barriers had turned into a quagmire, necessitating a lengthy run on the opening lap of the Men’s B Grade race.
Photo: Amanda Steele
Gemma Kernich isn’t just a top-notch mechanic, an AusCycling board member and a gun race organiser - she was also the unopposed winner of the women’s A grade race.
Photo: Amanda Steele
As for the performance of a certain CX Down Under correspondent? It was a good thing the costume was enough to win Best Dressed, because there was nothing good coming out of the legs!
Photo: @meghanjane91