What It’s Like Racing Cyclocross in Australia with Max Hobson

Cyclocross isn’t your average bike race. It’s gritty, fast, and unpredictable—part speed, technical ability, and pure luck. It’s a sport where the terrain becomes a big part of the race, pushing riders to nail different riding skills, from riding on grass, through mud, sand and even tarmac, all in a 5-10min loop. The Cyclocross National Series Round 5 at Heffron Park in Sydney promised all this (minus the mud). Getting there in the Ineos Grenadier added some fun and relaxation to the trip down.

Getting there

Leaving from Newport in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, the drive to Heffron on race day was beautiful. The Northern Beaches of Sydney is a place I am always in awe of. 

The pre race drive becomes a ritual for most riders. You need to have everything dialled, the right music, correct temperature and all your riding gear organised in the back. This is where you set the mood for the race. If you’re stressed, most likely you’ll carry that into the race and make costly mistakes. 

We had the privilege of taking an Ineos Grenadier to the race. What immediately stood out to me with the Ineos was just how lux it was for a burly 4WD. The build quality was impeccable. It’s a vehicle that feels as solid as it looks, with a surprising amount of power and acceleration for its size. I had the bike secured to the roof using a rhino rack. I like keeping the bike out of the car as it keeps the car clean, tidy and organised. The Rhino Rack hybrid bike carrier takes all of about 30 seconds to secure your bike to the roof.

Getting used to the track

Heffron Park is very well known amongst the Sydney cycling community, being the location for the Tuesday Night at Heffron crit race. However, Randwick CC transformed the park into a cyclocross loop for the weekend. Known for its mix of grassy corners, sandy brushes, and the flat stretches of its crit track, the course had a reputation for speed. This wasn’t its first time—Heffron had previously hosted rounds of the NSW & ACT state cyclocross series, including the 2023 NSW state championships.

Most Cyclocross racers will head out to the track the day before the race to scout the course, dial in their lines and visualise how the race will pan out. Carrying in the nerves of not knowing a track to race day has always been a mistake in my experience. It can take a few laps to really know a track. Take the first lap at snail pace, stop at difficult features and corners to really find the fastest lines. The next lap should piece it all together, followed by a faster third lap that simulates race pace.

How the race unfolded

Round 5 kicked off fast on Heffron’s iconic finish straight. I found myself in a good position holding second wheel. A few corners in I was able to ride my way into the lead. As I mentioned earlier, cyclocross can be all about pure luck. On a techy corner, my chain dropped off. It was a small mechanical, but in a race this fast, even just seconds lost can put you a fair way back. Luckily it was a quick fix and I pushed forward towards the front of the race again.

From there, it was a grind. I clawed my way back into second, just behind Tristan Nash and ahead of Nick Smith. Nick’s technical ability on the sandy sections eventually pushed me back into third place. The sand was tricky especially after the previous races that day having chopped up the track. Despite my best efforts to move up a place, the positions held firm. The finish line honestly couldn’t come soon enough, after a really fast and windy race I was wrecked but happy with a solid third place finish.

Post race reflections

Post race, the drive back in the Ineos offered 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 making ground on me? These are all things you need to think about if you want to improve.

The 2025 cross season starts in April/ May across most states in Australia which gives you more than enough time to prepare.

You can learn more about the Ineos Grenadier here & the Auscycling Cyclocross Series here.