Rebecca Henderson prevails by way of wild climate and a crash to clinch twelfth consecutive Australian mountain bike elite cross-country title

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Australia’s 2025 GWM Mountain Bike Nationwide Championships could have began with sunshine and blue skies however ended with shortened races, pouring rain and wind gusts of over 100kph on Sunday, nonetheless, even the brutal climate situations and a nasty crash weren’t sufficient to blow Rebecca Henderson (Orbea Manufacturing facility) off beam.

The 33-year-old from Canberra sprinted throughout the road forward of Tasmania’s Isabella Flint (Cervélo Australia Off-Highway) within the climate modified race to say her twelfth consecutive elite cross-country title in a row. Nonetheless, it was a tricky and close-run battle, notably with Henderson crashing on the primary lap.

“That was torture I hated each second of that,” mentioned Henderson within the put up race interview from a highlights package deal put out by AusCycling (see beneath). “I crashed within the first lap and I couldn’t shake Izzy and I used to be in a lot ache and by the tip I couldn’t use my left arm. I’m not in a great way.”

That was clear from the pained expression on her face after she crossed the road forward of Flint, who was taking over the elite class for the primary time.

“Thanks Isabella Flint for that arduous battle and all the women that known as out whereas I used to be on the bottom and choosing myself up,” mentioned Henderson in an Instagram put up.

“I assumed final 12 months was powerful with my ankle,” she mentioned trying again on the 2024 version the place she rolled her ankle simply earlier than the occasion and needed to sit out the short-track. “This one actually takes the cake.

“On reflection I believe that was one among my gutsiest efforts so far and I am in just a little little bit of disbelief that I obtained it carried out.”

Henderson’s win will preserve her within the acquainted inexperienced and gold jersey as she strikes to new group (Orbea Manufacturing facility), with the rider additionally having claimed the short-track title on Friday. Zoe Cuthbert got here third within the elite girls’s race on Sunday whereas Ella Menigoz claimed the U23 title.

It was additionally a well-recognized face on high of the boys’s elite podium as 2023 winner Sam Fox, who made his strategy to the occasion by bike-packing from Melbourne, took victory.

“The primary one I labored my total life for and it was the most effective kind I’d ever been in life,” Fox mentioned in an AusCycling media launch. “This feels a bit the alternative. I’d form of lately retired, I haven’t been coaching, and I got here into this race with no expectations.