Champions of Vic Park crowned

TWO cyclists were crowned winners of the 2023 AusCycling National Cyclo-cross Championships at Victoria Park last weekend.

More than 240 people took part in the event in categories ranging from under 13 to masters and elite.

Ballarat’s wet, cold and muddy weather was the perfect backdrop to the event providing obstacles for the riders to overcome.

Mountain biker Katherine Hosking from the Orbea Women’s Racing Team took out the win in the elite women’s category and Chris Aitken from Maap Sixpence CX won the elite men’s.

Hosking had previously come second in Cross-Country Marathon National Championships in Wagga Wagga and third place in the XCC National Championship in Thredbo this year.

She said she was surprised to take out her first win in cyclo-cross, but her background in cross country racing proved helpful.

“I had very little expectations coming into this race and when I saw the mud this morning, I was just going to have a good day,” she said.

“I didn’t really care what was going to happen I really can’t believe it I didn’t expect it at all.”

Aitkin thanked his team for helping him take out the title win.

“It’s nice to get the win,” he said. “I’ve worked hard this year and it really came down to a bit of teamwork in the pits there.”

“It was so muddy like last year, and we were changing bikes every lap.

“I think it’s more relief for me. If you were to sum up our race today it was brutal.”

In the Under 23 category Tristan Nash from Midland Cycle Club won the men’s national title and Sophie Sutton from Blackburn Cycling Club took out the women’s title.

Sam Northey from Alpine Cycling Club and Ruby Taylor from Hawthorn Cycling Club were the junior national champions.