Jack Ward and Isabella Flint race to double delight at XC National Series opener in Bendigo

Jack Ward and Isabella Flint opened up the 2025 XC National Series with back-to-back victories in Bendigo. 

The nation’s cross-country riders turned up to the Victorian town ready to begin their season campaign. 

Ward took the top step by the barest of margins in the elite men’s race on Saturday. 

 The Victorian outsprinted Joel Dodds and Brent Rees in a dramatic end to the six-lap affair. 

It was an impressive performance from the 19-year-old in a field that also included current XCO national champion Cameron Ivory, Dan McConnell and Scott Bowden. 

The legs returned for Sunday’s racing in searing temperatures, and this time Ward would put  nearly 30 seconds to the second placed Ivory with Rees again in the bronze medal position. 

In the elite women Flint got her season off to a flyer during the five-lap race as she would hold out the consistent Kathryn McInerney and Canberra’s Alice Patterson-Roberts by more than a minute. 

The Tasmanian, who is the 2024 Under 23 XCO champion showed early season form as she backed up for a second straight win ahead of Talia Appleton with McInerney again featuring on the podium.  

Izzy Flint won the opening two rounds in the elite women.

In the junior categories, West Australian Connor Wright showed he would be a force across the series as he claimed the opening two rounds as did Ruby Taylor in the Under 19 women. 

Connor Wright in action at the opening two rounds in Bendigo.

Full results can be found here. 

Rounds 3 and 4 of the XC National Series will be held in Hobart, January 25-26. 

You can enter here.