It was a weekend of chasing mountain bike national titles in Australia and New Zealand, delivering both the continuation of some impressive runs from well entrenched players, Rebecca Henderson and Anton Cooper, but also foreshadowing the emergence of a new generation of challengers.
In Australia as the racing unfolded at Mt Buller on Sunday, Henderson took an impressive 13th elite women's national cross-country title in a row. Even though she was picking her way through the course carefully after crashing in brutal wet conditions last year and unknowingly racing to her 12th title with a fractured shoulder, the Orbea Fox team rider claimed victory in dominant style.
