Battle lines drawn in Ballarat for 2024 CX National Championships 

The entries have closed, and the rain is predicted to fall on cue just in time to deliver another muddy edition of the AusCycling Cyclo-cross National Championships this Saturday in Ballarat. 

This year will see one of the biggest fields in recent history do battle for the green and gold jerseys, with more than 250 entries from U11s through to Masters 10. 

But all eyes will no doubt be on a stacked field in both elite men and elite women categories.  

Let’s take a look at the main contenders for this year’s titles.    

Elite men

Can Chris Aitken make it back-to-back titles?

Christopher Aitken returns to defend his 2023 national title, but he will have to beat 19 other riders to the finish line including CX National Series leader Tristan Nash.  

It will be his first-year racing in elites, last year winning the U23 title, but he will no doubt have a target on his back given the recent form he has shown throughout the 2024 National Series, where he has won five of six rounds.  

Tristan Nash won last year's U23 title and will go into this year's elite category as a red hot favourite.

  This year also sees a few familiar faces make a return to battle for the CX title. The current XCO National Champion Cameron Ivory and Tasman Nankervis are sure to spice things up with their mountain biking prowess.  

We know last year’s elite women’s race was won by mountain bike rider Katherine Hosking, so will we see another mountain biker win the men’s race this year?  

We will likely see Garry Millburn, who finished third last year, fighting it out yet again at the pointy end, as will Domenic Paolilli and Nicholas Smith, who round out the National Series top three, both showing consistent racing over the year.  

Elite women

Katherine Hosking will be tough to beat if her recent form is anything to go by. The mountain biker rider surprised herself last year by taking her maiden CX national title. But proving it wasn’t a one-off, and that she is just as comfortable on the 33mm tyres as she is on the wider tyres, Hosking has this year continued her dominance on the CX circuit.  

She has won all four of the national series rounds she has raced in, and currently sits in second on the national series ladder.  

Ahead of her in the national series standings is the experienced Fiona Morris who is always a tough competitor and will be fighting for that top spot come Saturday.  

Meanwhile, last year’s second-place getter Miranda Griffiths will be hoping to go one better and claim the national title on home turf.  

Miranda Griffiths will be looking to clinch the title on home turf.

2022 national champion Bec Locke will be back again in Ballarat and is a seasoned campaigner who knows what it takes to cross the finish line first.  

Also switching from the wider tyres to the 33mm will be Under 23 XCO national champion Izzy Flint, who could prove to be dark horse to take the win.  

The 2024 AusCycling Cyclo-cross National Championships will be held on Saturday August 17 at Victoria Park, Ballarat.  

Main photo: Katherine Hosking crossing the line to win the 2023 national title.