Mt. Buller, Australia, and Brisbane, Australia – A weekend of dominant performances saw Rebecca Henderson of Australia extend her reign as the nation’s premier cross-country mountain biker, securing her 13th consecutive elite national title. Simultaneously, Recent Zealand’s Anton Cooper continued his own impressive streak, claiming his 11th Oceania Mountain Bike elite cross-country title. The events, held across both countries, also highlighted the emergence of promising new talent in the sport.
Henderson, riding for Orbea Fox, completed the six-lap course at Mt. Buller on Sunday with a commanding lead, finishing 4:08 ahead of second-place Sarah Tucknott and Katrina Dower in third. The victory adds to her already impressive collection of national championships and comes after a challenging 2025 season where she unknowingly raced with a fractured shoulder following a crash in wet conditions. “I was so hyper-focused the whole way I never really rode into it, my eyes hurt because I was just laser focused, seeing every rock and risk averse,” Henderson said in a statement released by AusCycling after the race. Cyclingnews reports.
The Australian championships also saw a changing of the guard in the men’s elite race, with 20-year-old Jack Ward taking his first XCO title. Ward, riding for Lidl-Trek Future, finished the seven-lap race 1:19 ahead of Harry Doye, with Tasman Nankervis rounding out the podium. Ward also secured the short track title at the event. Escape Collective detailed the men’s race outcome.
Emerging Talent Shines at Mt. Buller
Alongside the established champions, the Australian National Championships showcased the potential of the next generation of mountain bike racers. In the U23 women’s race, Ruby Taylor, who recently achieved success on the road at the Hertz ProVelo Super League’s Tour of Tasmania, impressed with a strong performance, finishing with an average lap time just 11 seconds slower than Henderson and securing a 3:30 gap over her nearest U23 competitor, Ella Menigoz. Reuben Page-Brown took the U23 men’s title, finishing 37 seconds ahead of Joel Dodds.
Cooper Dominates in New Zealand, Sheppard Returns to Form
Across the Tasman Sea, Anton Cooper reaffirmed his dominance in Oceania mountain biking, winning his 11th elite XCO title on Saturday. Racing at the 2026 Oceania Mountain Bike Championships in Brisbane, Cooper finished 1:24 ahead of Matthew Wilson, who was the 2023 titleholder, with Fletcher Adams securing third place and the U23 title. Oceania Cycling confirmed the results.
The New Zealand championships also saw a welcome return to form for Samara Sheppard, a three-time XCO title holder who had been focusing on gravel racing. Sheppard finished the five-lap race 2:40 ahead of Maria Laurie, who claimed the U23 title. Cooper and Mary Gray added to their medal counts on Sunday, winning the elite short-track titles.
Cooper’s victory wasn’t without its challenges, as he faced a last-minute setback with a nail in his tire during warm-up. “It was a challenging start to the day but I was happy with how I rode,” Cooper said in a statement from Cycling New Zealand. “You need to demonstrate some calmness when things don’t travel to plan.”
The successes of both Henderson and Cooper underscore their continued dominance in the Oceania mountain biking scene, while the performances of emerging riders like Taylor and Ward suggest a bright future for the sport. The next major competitions for these athletes will likely be World Cup events, where they will test their skills against the world’s best.
What are your thoughts on Rebecca Henderson’s incredible run of national titles? Share your comments below and join the conversation!
