‘It’s pretty surreal’: Max Hobson clinches maiden elite cyclo-cross national title 

Max Hobson has claimed his first ever national title after storming to victory in a thrilling battle for the elite men’s cyclo-cross national championship in Ballarat. 

Hobson, 21, racing in his first year in the elite category, emerged the winner from a stacked field of contenders, including one of the big favourites for the day Tristan Nash.  

From the start whistle though it was Hobson who was sticking with Nash at the front of the nine lap race.   

For the first five laps Hobson was working hard to stay with Nash, but the West Australian  began to drop off the pace around the sixth lap and Hobson made his move.  

As Nash continued to fade, New South Welshmen Nicholas Smith put himself into contention for the national title, moving into second on course and looked at one point to be gaining on Hobson.  

But the Queenslader ended up holding on for the win with Smith 10 seconds back and Victorian Tasman Nankervis fighting into third position.  

It was clear the win meant a lot for an emotional Hobson.  

“It’s pretty surreal, I’ve been chasing this for like 10, 11 years,” Hobson said in a post-race interview.  

 “I was trying to hold off Tristan getting too far up the road, and he had a little slip up toward the end of the track and, I’m not sure if he had a little issue with the bike, but I just took it and decided to attack. I got maybe 10 seconds on Nick Smith and I was just like I just have to hold this for the next three or four laps.”  

Sam Northey came away with the U23 national title in battle that came down to the last lap.  

Northey (Alpine Cycling Clyb) attacked Ty Whitford (Geelong Cycling Club) down the finish straight on the final lap, in an attempt to shake his rival.  

 The attack stuck and Northey held off Whitford to take the national title ahead by 13 seconds.  

 New Zealand’s Jacob Turner, who was not eligible for the national title, won the U23 race ahead of Northey by about 7 seconds.  

The under 19 national title was won by Victorian Campbell McConnell (Alpine Cycling Club) in another closely fought race.  

McConnell was neck-and-neck with Sam Harberts (Geelong Mountain Bike Club) for the first half of the race before McConnell got a 20 second gap on his rival on lap 3.  

Harberts could not chase down McConnell who finished 10 seconds ahead in first.  

Pictures: @shotbyleealexand3r