“It feels like the elephant in the room" – British CX standout Cameron Mason hoping to cap “best level ever” with first big win, sooner rather than later

Cameron Mason insists he is delivering the strongest form of his career this winter — but the breakthrough victory continues to hover over him, a milestone he admits is becoming increasingly present in his mind.

Speaking in a wide-ranging chat with Sporza, the 25-year-old revealed he feels closer than ever to finally stepping onto the top step of a major classification race.

“It feels a bit like an elephant in the room, that first big win,” he admits. “But it can happen in any cross. Everything just needs to fall into place once.”

After seasons of promise, flashes of brilliance and a British title, this winter has been a clear jump forward. Runner-up finishes on the Koppenberg and in Hamme, plus a string of top-five and top-six results, have placed the Seven Racing rider firmly among the men animating the front of races — and as the closest challenger to Thibau Nys through October and November.

For Mason, the upturn is no mystery. Last winter was derailed before it truly began; this one was not. “Last winter everything went wrong because I got sick six days before the first race,” he recalled. “My condition took a big hit. Week after week I was riding in positions far worse than what I was aiming for.”

Only at Christmas did he feel himself again — “I slowly felt like myself again, with a 5th place in Hulst and the British title” — but the damage was done. This time, he arrived healthy, fresh and, crucially, confident.

“I knew that I would reach my best level ever, because physically and mentally I had never entered a cyclocross season this well,” he told Sporza. “But I didn’t know what results that would lead to.”

What it has led to is consistency at the sharp end: runner-up on the Koppenberg, runner-up in Hamme, 5th at the European Championships, and a cluster of top results across Merksplas, Essen, Ardooie and the World Cup opener in Tabor.

Yet the missing piece, that elusive marquee win, remains the thing he wants most.

Mason’s rapid rise has been accompanied by something else fans in Belgium have grown fond of: his remarkably fluent spoken Dutch. It caught viewers off guard in Hamme and even initially confused the interviewer when Sporza phoned him for this interview.

“How do I speak a bit of Dutch?” he laughed. “I’ve been riding for a Belgian team for several years now, and I try to speak as much Dutch as possible with my teammates, mechanics and soigneurs.”

He even offered up a favourite word — “Schildpad” — before explaining that while he won’t be trading Scotland for Belgium permanently, he has developed an affection for local essentials: “I’m a massive fan of your chip shops. Especially chips with curryworst — the veggie version.”

It fits the picture of a rider who has built a stable life in Boom, embraced the scene, and gained popularity with supporters for both his racing and his sense of humour — particularly courtesy of that now-famous moustache.

The moustache began as an off-season experiment. It has since developed into both an identity and an unexpected fan favourite. “During the off-season I just didn’t shave it, and I thought it suited me,” he said. “During races fans shout ‘nice moustache’ at me. I’ve also heard the words ‘brush’ and ‘moustache man’. All very funny. ‘Snorremans’ seems like a fun nickname, actually.”

It’s put him, as Sporza joked, into the orbit of another moustachioed figure of Belgian cycling: Victor Campenaerts. Mason is relaxed about the comparison — partly because he shares something else with the Belgian time trial specialist.

“I’ve had a YouTube channel for years where I analyse my races in my own way — on good days and bad days,” he said. “Editing the videos takes time, but I enjoy doing it.”

Despite his surge in form, the Briton admits his performances are not fully visible at home due to broadcast restrictions. “In Great Britain all the cyclocross races are behind a paywall on Discovery+. A subscription costs €45 per month,” he explained. “From next season, even the Tour and the Classics won’t be free to watch anymore.”

It’s a shift he fears could damage the sport’s growth in the UK. As a result, he is increasingly vocal about what Olympic inclusion could mean for cyclocross. “If I tell people in Britain that I race cyclocross and that it’s not an Olympic sport, they switch off,” he said. “If cyclocross were added to the Winter Olympics, it would boost sponsor interest. A win-win situation.”

And yes, an Olympic appearance sits firmly on his personal bucket list.

Mason’s ambitions are refreshingly clear and grounded. He isn’t shy about naming the prizes he wants. “I’d really love one of those big cobblestones as winner of the Koppenbergcross,” he said. “A realistic goal — I’ve been close a few times already.”

Championships matter to him too. “At the European Championships I’ve already finished 2nd once. That blue stars jersey is hugely important.”

The World Championships? That’s more complicated. “The Worlds are a different story because of Mathieu van der Poel,” he admitted. Still, the course in Hulst is one he believes should suit him.

But before any of that, he simply wants that first major win — the one result that would finally match the level he is displaying week after week. “It can happen in any cross. Everything just needs to fall into place once.”