Rebecca Henderson has won a phenomenal 13th elite XCO national title with another clinical performance under blue skies at Mt Buller at the 2026 GWM Mountain Bike National Championships.
While Sarah Tucknott got the jump from the opening whistle, it wasn’t long before Henderson took the lead and rode away from the rest of the field early on the first lap.
Henderson continued to open the gap on each lap before raising her arms on the sixth and final lap to cross the finish line four minutes and eight seconds ahead of Tucknott.
“I love to race overseas with the jersey on, and one day someone else is going to take it from me, but I’m enjoying it for now I’m really proud to pull it back on,” she said.
With last year’s brutal conditions in the back of her mind where she suffered a wrist injury, Henderson said she was focussed on getting through the race injury-free.
“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,” she said.
“My plan is always the same, give it my best effort and see how it plays out. I rode away unexpectedly, I just tried to find room.
“I had no feelings today just because I was in that strange focus zone that I’ve never really been in before, not necessarily in a good way I think it’s not a way to race freely but it got the job done.”
For Tucknott it was her first medal at an elite national championships.
“I had five years from the sport due to illness and last year was my first back on the scene. It’s been a massive improvement over the past 12 months so I’m happy to be here,” she said.
“I had a great start, but after that I just felt as flat as a tack, it’s a bit disappointing to have such a bad day at nationals, I was hoping I had more for me.”
The ride of the day was under 23 national champion Ruby Taylor in her first year stepping up from under 19.
After starting one minute behind the elites, Taylor overtook all riders except for Henderson and was the second-fastest woman of the day.
“I didn’t really expect it. I was hoping for the best and hoping to put down some power, and some good times,” Taylor said riding up in her first year in U23s.
Freya Buckmaster won the under 19 title after a tight battle with Alana Fletcher.
Results
XCO Elite Women
🥇 Rebecca Henderson – (Canberra Off-Road Cyclists)
🥈 Sarah Tucknott – (Perth Mountain Bike Club)
🥉 Katriina Dower – (GMBC)
XCO U23 Women
🥇 Ruby Taylor – (Hawthorn Cycling Club)
🥈 Ella Menigoz – (Rats Cycling Club Inc)
🥉 Elle De Nooyer – (Darling Downs Cycling Club)
XCO U19 Women
🥇 Freya Buckmaster – (Hobart Wheelers Dirt Devils CC)
🥈 Alana Fletcher – (Bendigo Mountain Bike Club)
🥉 Amaya Shaw – (Hunter Mountain Bike Association)
Full results here.
Images: Matt Rousu