Cameron Ivory returns home to win XCO national title

More than six years after last claiming the title, Cameron Ivory has returned to his hometown club to take out the elite men’s XCO national championship.

In a race that will be remembered for its mud and rain, Ivory rode with authority to earn the win in front of the large crowd and family and friends at Awaba Mountain Bike Park.

The rain-soaked final day of the 2024 GWM Mountain Bike National Championships had seen all prior races shortened by one lap, such were the poor and slippery conditions underfoot. By the time the elite men arrived at the start line, the precipitation had eased for several hours – though, as it would prove, this was only a brief respite.

The race began at a cracking pace, with a group of riders that included defending champion Sam Fox, Scott Bowden, Cameron Wright, Brendan Johnston, Ivory and emerging phenom Jack Ward establishing a select front group during the start loop.

Racing in his first elite XCO national championship, Ward led the way through the end of the first full lap, but the race then took a dramatic turn when heavy rain again began to fall.

After dropping behind early, XCC champion Dan McConnell bridged the gap to the leading group, and at one point stole the lead with an aggressive move through the start-finish zone.

Ivory then made the decisive move on the third full lap of the course, opening a slender lead over Ward, with Fox a few seconds further back. A group consisting of McConnell, Bowden, Wright and Johnston began to fall back to 30 seconds behind.

When the bell sounded for the final lap, Ivory had opened a clear lead. The 31-year-old avoided mishap, pressing home his advantage to win by more than a minute from Ward. Meanwhile, McConnell recovered from the early setback to round out the podium and claim his second medal for the week.

After the race, Ivory revealed how his partner Izzy Flint – who had become the under-23 women’s champion moments before Ivory’s race – inspired a late tyre changed that proved critical.

“As I was in the start box, [Izzy] crossed the finish line and came straight to me and said, ‘You want these tyres,” Ivory explained.

“And I was like, ‘Okay, let's put them in.’ I had dry tyres on at that stage, and yeah, it was good call.

“I knew it was going to be quite slick out there after a fair bit of wet weather, so I just wanted to be in that front bunch, making sure that no gaps were going to open up and take me out of the race.

“The guys just in front of me started making some mistakes and I thought, ‘I'm feeling fine on the descents. Let's start pushing and see what happens,’ and got a little gap and went from there.”

For Ivory, who was born and raised in Newcastle, but now lives in Tasmania, the victory was a homecoming.

“This is at the Awaba Mountain Bike Park with Hunter Mountain Bike Association, and that was my first club. I grew up with a lot of these guys, and to have this race out here in front of some of my family; my best mates were out there, old riding mates, it was awesome,” he said.

“I won the national champs back in 2018, and since then, I've wanted the jersey back. I’ve chased it hard. Had a few close years, but to actually do it today on my old local trails is pretty special.”

Despite having to stop in the pits to change a front wheel, Joel Dodds stormed home to win the under-23 category by more than six minutes from Daniel Aurik, with Patrick Flood another five minutes behind.

In the under-19s category, Harry Doye stole away from Vinnie Manion on the bell lap to add the XCO title to Friday’s XCC silver medlal.

Results – Cross-country Olympic

Elite Men
🥇 Cameron Ivory (Launceston MTB Club) 1:30:47
🥈 Jack Ward (Team Bridgelane) +1:08
🥉 Daniel McConnell (Trek Shimano Australia) +1:27

Under-23 Men
🥇 Joel Dodds (Ipswich CC)
🥈 Daniel Aurik (Launceston MTB Club)
🥉 Patrick Flood (RATS CC)

Under-19 Men
🥇Harry Doye (Trek Shimano Australia)
🥈 Vinnie Manion (Team Bridgelane)
🥉 Eddie Mungoven (Canberra Off Road Cyclists)

🥇 U17 Men: Connor Wright (Trek Shimano Australia)
🥇 U15 Men: Benjamin Shaw (Tamworth CC)
🥇 U13 Boys: Lucas Aarekol (Kenmore CC)

Masters Men
🥇 Expert: Brooke Anderson (Canberra Off Road Cyclists)
🥇 Men 1: Blake Sutcliffe (Sutherland Shire CC)
🥇 Men 2: Nathan Mummery (Stack City MTB Club)
🥇 Men 3: Adrian Jackson (Hawthorn CC)
🥇 Men 4: Andrew Blair (Canberra Off Road Cyclists)
🥇 Men 5: Mark Leis (Hobart Wheelers Dirt Devils)
🥇 Men 6: Russell Eggins (Sunshine Coast CC)
🥇 Men 7: Scott McLennan (Traralgon MTB Club)
🥇 Men 8: Ron Richdale (Gold Coast CC)
🥇 Men 9: Roger Cull (Sydney CC)

Click for full results

2024 GWM Mountain Bike National Championships

Location: Awaba Mountain Bike Park, Lake Macquarie, NSW
Dates: March 12-17, 2024
More information: 2024 GWM Mountain Bike National Championships

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The 2024 GWM Mountain Bike National Championships are proudly supported by Lake Macquarie City Council, and the NSW State Government through tourism and major events agency Destination NSW.p

Photos: Matt Rousu / AusCycling