How to Race Cyclocross in Australia with Max Hobson

Cyclocross is not your average bicycle race. It's gritty, fast, and unpredictable—part speed, technical skill, and pure luck. It is a sport where the terrain becomes a major part of the race, pushing riders to train different riding skills, from riding on grass, mud, sand and even tarmac, all in a 5-10min loop. Cyclocross National Series Round 5 at Heffron Park in Sydney promised all of this (minus the mud). Getting there in the Ineos Grenadier added fun and relaxation to the journey down.

Getting there

From Newport on Sydney's Northern Beaches, the journey to Heffron on race day was beautiful. The Northern Beaches of Sydney is a place that I am always in awe of.

The pre race drive is becoming a ritual for many riders. You need to have everything dialed in, the right music, the right temperature and all your riding gear arranged in the back. This is where you put the spirit of the race. When you're stressed, you're more likely to race and make big mistakes.

We had the privilege of taking the Ineos Grenadier to the race. What immediately stood out to me about the Ineos was how good the 4WD was. Build quality was good. It's a car that feels as solid as it looks, with incredible power and acceleration for its size. I had secured the bike from the roof using a rhinoceros cage. I like to keep the bike out of the car as it keeps the car clean, tidy and organised. The Rhino Rack hybrid bike carrier takes about 30 seconds to secure your bike to the roof.

Getting used to the track

Heffron Park is well known among the Sydney cycling community, being the site of the Tuesday Night Heffron crit race. However, Randwick CC turned the park into a cyclocross loop over the weekend. Known for its mix of grassy corners, sandy brush, and flat stretches of its track, the course had a reputation for speed. It wasn't the first time—Heffron has previously hosted rounds of the NSW & ACT state cyclocross series, including the 2023 NSW state championship.

Most Cyclocross racers will go out to the track the day before the race to check out the course, drive their lines and visualize how the race will turn out. Carrying around feelings of not knowing the track on race day has always been a mistake in my experience. It can take a few seconds to really get to know the track. Take the first step at a snail's pace, stop at difficult points and corners to get the fastest lines. The next lap should bring it all together, followed by a fast third lap simulating race pace.

How did the race go?

Round 5 started quickly with a stunning finish by Heffron straight away. I found myself in a good position holding the second wheel. A few corners I was able to climb into the front. As I said earlier, cyclocross can be all pure luck. In the technical corner, my chain is down. It was a small machine, but in a race this fast, even a few lost seconds can set you right back. Luckily it was fixed quickly and I pushed forward again towards the front of the race.

From there, it was a grind. I clawed my way back to second place, just behind Tristan Nash and ahead of Nick Smith. Nick's technical ability in the sandy sections eventually got me back to third place. The sand was especially tricky after the previous races that day had cut the track. Despite my best efforts to move up into the area, the positions tightened. The finish line couldn't come soon enough, after a very fast and windy race I crashed but was happy to come third.

Submit race ideas

Post-race, the drive back to Ineos provided a moment to reflect on the race, which is important for any rider looking to improve. What could I have done better? Where is my training letting me down? Where is my competition focused on me? These are all things you need to think about if you want to improve.

The 2025 cross country season starts in April/May in all Australian states giving you plenty of extra time to prepare.

You can read more about the Ineos Grenadier here and the Auscycling Cyclocross Series here.