Bec Henderson and Anton Cooper expand their dominance: 13 and 11 titles in XCO

The XCO season kicks off in Oceania with two figures that summarize the absolute dominance of its protagonists. Rebecca Henderson elevated her hegemony to 13 consecutive elite titles in Australia, while Anton Cooper reached his eleventh national championship in New Zealand. Two established careers that once again mark the starting point before the World Cup.

Henderson expands her legend with 13 consecutive titles

Rebecca Henderson once again demonstrated that she remains the great reference of Australian XCO by conquering her 13th consecutive elite title at Mount Buller, a figure that speaks for itself of her sustained dominance over time. The Orbea Factory Team rider also completed a perfect weekend by winning the XCC, just like her compatriot Jack Ward, a member of Lidl Trek Future Racing, did in the men's category.

Far from being just another victory, Henderson explained after the race that it was one of the most mentally demanding performances of her career. Her approach was completely controlled, avoiding any mistakes on a circuit where every detail could make a difference. The Australian described a race based on absolute concentration throughout the event, managing her effort to stay out of the danger zone and reduce risks.

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This more conservative yet tremendously effective approach allowed her to dominate the race without flaws. A performance that may seem simple from the outside, but according to the rider herself, is the result of years of constant and accumulated work. With this victory, Henderson not only reinforces her status in Australia but also enters the international season with a solid fitness base and renewed confidence.

Anton Cooper achieves his 11th national title in New Zealand

In Rotorua, the New Zealand national championship featured another outstanding performance with the victory of Anton Cooper, who reached his eleventh national title in XCO. The rider from the new PXR Lapierre project, who also won the National XCC Championship, continues to expand his palmarès and confirms that he remains one of the key names in the country.

His race was marked by a complicated start after an incident during warm-up that forced him to adapt on the fly. With no time for normal preparation, he used the first laps to find his rhythm while other riders set the pace at the front. From there, he grew stronger until launching his attack in the second half, where he managed to create a gap in the most favorable sections of the circuit and secure the victory solo.

In the women's category, the victory went to Samara Sheppard, who achieved her third national title in XCO. The New Zealander thus confirms her consistency in the domestic calendar and re-establishes herself as one of the references in the country ahead of the international season.