In 2023 I started to race competitively in the growing sport of cyclocross. I found the love for this sport due to the people in the WA cyclocross community as well as enjoying the racing atmosphere. As a 16 year old, I compete as a 2nd year U19 in the Junior Women category.
I have been fortunate enough to travel overseas for cyclocross. I raced in the UK for one month, racing in the Elite Women category at UCI- level races and local races. I was accepted into a cyclocross training camp which involved an intensive week of CX training at the UCI World Cycling Centre in Aigle Switzerland, with people from all around the world. I then raced in Belgium for one month, representing Australia in three World Cup races and UCI races. I raced in Spain and the Netherlands for two of the World Cups.
When back at home in Perth, I race at all the AusCycling National Cyclo-cross Series races, AusCycling Cyclo-cross National Champs and all the WACX local Numbat Cup Series races.
Below I have answered some common questions that I get asked and also some of the things l hope helps you if you’re thinking of racing CX in Europe. Trying to sum up my European experience is so hard because I have learnt so much and want to write about it for pages on end.
What are the main differences between racing in Australia and racing in Europe?
There is a huge difference racing in Belgium, especially cyclocross, as it is their National sport. Every person in Belgium knows either a rider, mechanic or team manager that is involved in cyclocross. It is insane how everyone knows everyone in Belgium and especially for cycling – mainly road racing in the summer and cyclocross in the winter.
During the winter cyclocross season Belgium has races every second day and they have forests available to them with technical trails. Each forest is unique with different aspects. This allows them to constantly refine and hone their cross skills. They have local training sessions, clubs and all the resources. I think the biggest difference is the lack of resources Australia has, it is very hard to replicate what Belgium is like, but not impossible. The Belgians learn their CX skills at such a young age and then it just becomes natural, like bunny hopping hurdles, riding sand pits, riding pump tracks and doing tricks etc.
It is also very hard to understand the sheer number of people that do cross, especially for the women. Going from racing against three or four girls in Australia, to lining up against 60-70 girls in Europe was a huge difference. It forced me to get used to the hustle and bustle of the peloton. It’s extremely competitive, as a simple mistake in a corner can cost you ten positions.
Another thing was how many teams are involved in the sport. Girls would turn up to races in their own motorhome, with their team name, photo and their results printed on the side. Then another truck would arrive with multiple bikes and tyres to choose from.
What was the hardest race you did?
Probably one of the local races because the grass was still frozen. There was snow on the ground and my cleats fully blocked up with ice. It was a 1.5km course and the conditions meant that I needed to run about 90% of the lap.
To be fair, each CX course is unique and so different, that is why there have been so many different winners in Elite Women’s category this year. Certain courses suit different riders with different skills. It’s interesting how much each course varies, and I think that’s why course recon is such an important thing.
Before going to Europe, I watched every race on TV that was at a course that l was competing on. I tried to research each course as much as possible to work out what areas I may need to work on. Although sometimes the TV does not convey the steepness of some of the drops etc. This was important because in real-life you don’t have much time to do a proper course recon at UCI-level races. They only schedule you 30-45mins of course recon which is not a lot. You are usually able to squeeze in three laps maximum, sometime only two.
I also found the Dendermonde World Cup a really hard race because of how thick the mud was. I was having to change my bike in the pits every half-lap due to the mud clogging up the bike. Most of the course involved off-camber running so you really had to concentrate with where your feet were going.
What are the necessities to bring for Europe and would you recommend any types of equipment?
Racing in Belgium and the UK is all about clothing. If you don’t have the right clothing you’re not giving your body the best chance to perform. I got help with my clothing through Mayeur Cycling Apparel and Glen Parker Cycles, but a lot of the clothes were sourced from European retailers because the European winter clothes are designed for their environment.
I only picked out clothing that was suitable for -2 to -10 degrees. Even after racing, having a big full-length jacket to keep warm was crucial. If you get sick it’s really game-over because it takes a lot longer to recover in such cold conditions.
I would also recommend using Cyclocross Custom for pit-crew services because they know what they are doing and are very experienced. They have all the gear you need to finish a race.
As mentioned, some races l needed to change my bike every lap. I took two bikes over to Europe and both of them are still in perfect condition because they were so well looked after by the team at Cyclocross Custom. They also helped set up my bikes with the correct tire pressures which is really important to get right. They also provided a wind trainer to use before the race.
The majority of the elite riders use tubular tyres but I personally ran a tubeless setup the whole time and it never let me down. I chose to use an all-rounder mud tire.
I would also bring spares of everything, including helmet, shoes and gloves because everything gets so muddy and then you have to wash it. It takes days to dry everything and you can’t be riding the next day in wet gear.
Summing up
If you get the chance, I would really recommend travelling to Europe, especially Belgium, for CX racing. One of the best things is the people that you meet along the way. Everyone was so friendly and helpful.
Not only was it great to receive so much support from back home, I was also amazed by the amount of encouragement I received from the supporters at the races. The huge crowds are so passionate. They don’t care which country you represent as long as you are trying your hardest. They are cheering for you and you can’t help but be swept up by their enthusiasm.
Competing against riders from all over the world was such an amazing experience that I will always remember. I’m so grateful for all the support and encouragement that made these trips possible.