After South Australia's last COVID lockdown forced the postponement of the AusCycling Cyclo-Cross State Championships (pencil in Sunday 10 October for those!) people were eager for some sun and a race with 125 riders entering today's final round of the Crossfire Cup, supported by Focus Bike Australia and Zero Friction Cycling. Although there hadn't been much rain, the long grass was very wet for practice and standing water on areas of the moss created a few sparse patches of slick mud - just enough to catch some riders out (here's looking at you, B-Grade Men first corner!).
Most people were facing two dismounts per 2km lap with the regular barriers and a sneaky 'natural obstacle UCI-compliant commissaire-approved' log enticing some to get 'beached-as bro' by their chainrings, with fast and flowy grassy corners making up the majority of the course and the leg sapping railway line straight a way for some people to make up big time.
Talia Simpson enjoyed her first A-Grade Womens win, besting Tessa Manning who had been unbeaten so far this season, and Sarah Holmes finished in third. In the A-Grade Mens PACC's Tommy Chapman swapped his road racing for CX legs and rode a perfect race, lapping in very consistant and very fast times. Only Rohan Wright was able to follow him, and only for the first lap, with Tom riding away, stringing out the entire field. Matthew Bird took third place comfortably. Watch out for Tim Roe in future, who rode from last place at the end of Lap 1, through to 4th place at the finish.
Other riders to watch in future raced in A-Grade Juniors: PACC's William Brown found his 'cross mojo for the win, ahead of two rapidly improving PACC junior riders - Zach Bryant and Madeleine Wasserbaech in second and third across the line in a strong field. Look out for SASI rider Wil Holmes who has worked out how to steer a 'cross bike and won J17 Mens in lap times that would have put him at the pointy end of the B-Grade field.
Full results are available here:
- PACC CrossMgr format - excellent for animated race maps, race charts and multiple languages: http://results.pacc.org.au/2021/CrossFireCup/Round3/
- CrossResults.com format (don't forget to login and 'rate that race'!) - great for stalking your competition (who is your nemesis?): https://www.crossresults.com/race/10205
- Final Crossfire Cup Series Standings and Points after Round 3 - Pending (you can see points after Round 2 here: http://results.pacc.org.au/2021/CrossFireCup/Round2/Series%20Points.xlsx
Thanks to Rob for keeping the coffees flowing, and Trott Park Fencing club keeping the BBQ sizzling and Janine for sign-on desk muffins - no-one went home hungry. Many thanks as always to those riders who ventured out early to set up, help with sign-on, and those who hung around to pack down in record time in the glorious sunshine. Susan, Paula, Will and David were our Commissaires today keeping an eye on safe, fun and fair racing for all.
Did you take photos at the event and want to share? If you have a public album, you can share it with the world by providing the URL at in the 'race pictures' tab for the event at crossresults.com.
Keep an eye out on the PACC Entryboss to register for all our upcoming events - including the return to Hanson for regular training: https://boss.as/pacc/
Photos c/ James Raison @rideadelaide
Results , Cyclocross