Hosking and Nash flex muscles in CX National Series opening rounds

Katherine Hosking and Tristan Nash have come away from the opening two rounds of the 2024 AusCycling National Cyclo-cross series in Adelaide undefeated in the elite men and women.

After a seven-year hiatus racing was back at the famed Zombie Park with sunny skies and a dry and dusty course.

Age groupers from masters to juniors would be first up as they belted their way through the grass and sandy sections laid out by hosts Port Adelaide Cycling Club.

In the elite women, the green and gold kit of Katherine Hosking led from the front of the pack in the opening round as she staved off the challenge of Miranda Griffiths by a mere 15 seconds in their 6-lap duel.

Local Anook Simpson rounded out the podium in third place.

A solid field of 18 riders lined up for the elite men, which included current national champion and defending series champion Chris Aitken.

However, the New South Welshman would have his work cut out as the battle up front raged between West Australian Tristan Nash and former champion and local Chris Jongewaard, who recently claimed a silver medal at the UCI Masters Mountain Bike World Championships in Cairns.

Nash, the U23 national champion, would pull away to record an opening round win ahead of Jongewaard and Nicholas Smith.

Riders would have 24 hours to reset themselves for another bash around the park for Round 2 on Sunday.

It would again see the familiar battle at the pointy end between Hosking and Griffiths in the early part of the six-lap contest in the elite women.

Armidale native, Hosking, would put the gas down on the final lap to make it two from two, nearly a minute ahead of Griffiths with Fiona Morris completing the podium.

In the elite men, Nash would again flex his in-form muscles to ensure a second gold medal from the weekend’s racing.

The change on the podium would come with Domenic Paolilli making his way into medal contention after his fifth the day prior and Garry Milburn who recorded a third-place finish ahead of Smith.

Full results

The next two rounds of the CX National Series will be held in Brisbane on June 15-16..

You can enter here.

Photo Credit: James Raison