One Victorian household is set for a golden celebration: Bright couple Garry Millburn and Fiona Morris (Alpine Cycling Club) have won their respective elite national titles at the 2026 AusCycling Cyclo-cross National Championships today.
Each rider conquered the demanding, muddy conditions in Ballarat to take home the gold medals and the iconic green-and-gold jersey.
Fiona Morris soloes to victory in the elite women's race.
Morris confidently triumphed by over four minutes ahead of Perth's Alicia Reynolds (Midland Cycle Club). After placing third last year and stringing together consistent top-5 and top-10 results over the last few editions, the 41-year-old was finally able to climb onto the top step today.
"It feels pretty amazing," Morris said.
"The circuit was getting more challenging − plenty of mud, which I do like − so lots of fun, great course and great to be here.
Fiona Morris tackling the muddy Ballarat course.
"I could hear Tom McQuinlan [the on-course commentator] on the mic calling out what I’d done, and I think I can be proud to be here today and take the jersey. I’ve spent a lot of time racing cross, so I feel like I’ve earned it."
In the hour-long men's race, Millburn prevailed after a tight battle with runner-up Nicholas Smith (Southern Highlands CC) and bronze medallist Chris Jongewaard (Adelaide Cycling Club).
Garry Millburn fights off Nicholas Smith for the victory.
Smith led much of the final lap, eking out a few bike lengths over Millburn, before the 39-year-old veteran passed his opponent at the barriers and sprinted to win by four seconds.
"About time, I think," said Millburn, who had previously medalled at this event six times without a win.
"It was a bloody good race out there. The three of us were watching each other for a while. Nick was so strong out there. He certainly had me on the ropes with two or three to go. I just knew I needed to get back on the wheel.
A mud-splattered Millburn, with Jongewaard lurking behind.
"I thought if I could lead through the barriers, get out of that corner, it should be alright. Bit of of luck out of that corner, but great battle all round."
Millburn and Morris have been mainstays of Australia's cyclo-cross scene for the best part of a decade, having both represented their country at World Championships. Now, this CX power couple will take home their first elite national titles together.
The national cyclo-cross season concludes tomorrow in Ballarat with the final round of the AusCycling Cyclo-cross National Series, also hosted by CX Ballarat.
Results − 2026 AusCycling Cyclo-cross National Championships
Elite Women
- 🥇 Fiona MORRIS (Alpine Cycling Club) 51:56
- 🥈 Alicia REYNOLDS (Midland Cycle Club) +4:23
Elite Men
- 🥇 Garry MILLBURN (Alpine Cycling Club) 1:01:21
- 🥈 Nicholas SMITH (Southern Highlands CC) +4
- 🥉 Christopher JONGEWAARD (Adelaide Cycling Club) +1:04
- 🥇 U11 Girls: Georgie TURNBULL (Brunswick Cycling Club)
- 🥇 U13 Girls: Isabel MUSCAT (Brunswick Cycling Club)
- 🥇 U15 Women: Kathleen CORBOY (Alpine Cycling Club)
- 🥇 U17 Women: Alayla SCHMID (Perth Mountain Bike Club)
- 🥇 U19 Women: Amaya SHAW (Hunter Mountain Bike Association)
- 🥇 U23 Women: Alana FLETCHER (Bendigo Mountain Bike Club)
- 🥇 Expert Women: Hannah ARMSTRONG (Melbourne University CC)
- 🥇 Open Women: Clare DREW (Brunswick Cycling Club)
- 🥇 Masters Women 1: Elise GILES (Hawthorn Cycling Club)
- 🥇 Masters Women 2: Tanya MATEAR (Perth Mountain Bike Club)
- 🥇 Masters Women 3: Heather WEERDENBURG (Brunswick Cycling Club)
- 🥇 Masters Women 4: Claire AUBREY (Canberra Off-Road Cyclists)
- 🥇 Masters Women 5: Melissa ANSET (Smiths Gully MTB Club)
- 🥇 Masters Women 6: Annabel COX (Norwood Cycling Club)
- 🥇 Masters Women 7: Liz GRAY (Sutherland Shire Cycling Club)
- 🥇 Masters Women 8: Sharon HEAP (Gold Coast Mountain Bike Club)
- 🥇 U11 Boys: Harry SHAW (Hunter Mountain Bike Association)
- 🥇 U13 Boys: Rupert AUBREY (Canberra Off-Road Cyclists)
- 🥇 U15 Men: Lyndon WINTER (Adelaide Mountain Bike Club)
- 🥇 U17 Men: Evan HAWKES (Port Adelaide Cycling Club)
- 🥇 U19 Men: Billy VAN HOUT (Norwood Cycling Club)
- 🥇 U23 Men: Hayden VIMPANI (Blackburn Cycling Club)
- 🥇 Expert Men: Lukas MATIC (St Kilda Cycling Club)
- 🥇 Open Men: Michael BENSON (Orange Mountain Bike Club)
- 🥇 Masters Men 1: Gal KODRIC (Ballarat Sebastopol Cycling Club)
- 🥇 Masters Men 2: Daniel BRAUNSTEINS
- 🥇 Masters Men 3: Jon ODAMS (Southern Cross CC)
- 🥇 Masters Men 4: Nathan RICKERBY (Canberra Off-Road Cyclists)
- 🥇 Masters Men 5: Russell VAN HOUT (Norwood Cycling Club)
- 🥇 Masters Men 6: Matthew RIZZUTO (Canberra Cycling Club)
- 🥇 Masters Men 7: Les HEAP (Gold Coast Cycling Club)
- 🥇 Masters Men 8: Mark RUPERT (Port Adelaide Cycling Club)
- 🥇 Masters Men 9: Michael LAWSON (Bicisport)
- 🥇 Masters Men 10: Myles HIGGINS (Shepparton Cycling Club)
Click to see full results
Photos: Mark Simmonds / CX Ballarat