Australia's Rebecca Henderson takes thirteenth consecutive elite cross-country mountain bike nationwide title, New Zealand's Anton Cooper makes it an eleventh

It was a weekend of chasing mountain bike nationwide titles in Australia and New Zealand, delivering each the continuation of some spectacular runs from effectively entrenched gamers, Rebecca Henderson and Anton Cooper, but in addition foreshadowing the emergence of a brand new era of challengers.

In Australia because the racing unfolded at Mt Buller on Sunday, Henderson took a powerful thirteenth elite ladies’s nationwide cross-country title in a row. The Orbea Fox group journey claimed victory in dominant model despite the fact that she was choosing her approach by way of the course rigorously after final yr crashing in brutal moist circumstances and unknowingly racing to her twelfth title with a fractured shoulder.

“I used to be so hyper-focused the entire approach I by no means actually rode into it, my eyes damage as a result of I used to be simply laser targeted, seeing each rock and threat averse,” Henderson stated in an AusCycling media launch after including her thirteenth elite cross-country Australian title to the short-track one she claimed earlier on the occasion.

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It did not, nevertheless, appear to hinder her run. After six laps, taking a median of 14:33 every, Henderson crossed the road with a 4:08 result in second-placed Sarah Tucknott whereas Katrina Dower was third.

The U23 ladies’s riders have been additionally out on the course on the identical time, however beginning a minute later for his or her 5 lap occasion. Nonetheless that did not cease U23 winner Ruby Taylor – who final month received two levels on the street on the Hertz ProVelo Tremendous League’s Tour of Tasmania – catching and passing all however Henderson on her technique to victory in her first yr out of the junior class. The 18-year-old who had a median lap time of 14:44, simply 11 seconds greater than Henderson, carved out a spot of three:30 to her nearest U23 rival Ella Menigoz.

Within the males’s elite race on the 2026 GWM MTB Nationwide Championships it was a brand new Australian XCO title holder with a win for 20-year-old Jack Ward, who stepped up into the class early and got here second within the powerful circumstances final yr.

“I simply wished to tear the primary lap and put everybody within the purple and I may get better faster and go from there,” stated Ward, who additionally received the brief observe title.

By the point he crossed the ultimate end line after seven laps the multi-discipline Lidl-Trek Future rider had constructed the hole to second positioned Harry Doye to 1:19 whereas Tasman Nankervis was 32 seconds additional again in third.

Reuben Web page-Brown claimed the U23 win forward of Joel Dodds, who was simply 37 seconds again.

Over in New Zealand it was Anton Cooper who was racking up the title depend on Saturday, claiming an eleventh elite XCO title after taking off on the third lap and holding on to win the 6 lap mixed males’s elite and U23 race. He had a spot of 1:24 to his nearest rival Matthew Wilson, who received the title in 2023. Fletcher Adams got here third general and in addition claimed the U23 title.

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The eleventh win for Cooper, who now races with Lapierre PXP, got here after a disrupted pre-race construct. He bought a nail by way of the tyre as he was warming up quarter-hour from the beginning, that meant he needed to prepare to be picked up and do a fast wheel change earlier than dashing to the road with out the deliberate warm-up.

“It was a difficult begin to the day however ultimately, I used to be pleased with how I rode,” stated Cooper in a media assertion from Biking New Zealand. “It’s essential present some calmness when issues don’t go to plan.”

Three-time XCO title holder Samara Sheppard had been away from the title hunt for a while given her give attention to gravel however the New Zealand rider who lives in Australia returned along with her successful kind intact.

“I had a few days to dial-in the observe and go on the market with a game-plan and execute a superb race was actually satisfying,” stated Sheppard. “I used to be constant all through the entire course, climbing effectively and capable of put the ability down and journey easily and cleanly.”

Sheppard, who races the Life Time Grand Prix collection, completed the five-lap race with a 2:40 hole to Maria Laurie who was in second general however claimed the U23 title within the mixed ladies’s race.

On Sunday, Mary Grey and Cooper received the New Zealand elite short-track titles.