Bec Henderson wins the Australian XCO Championship, breaks a ligament in her ankle, and finishes third in the Oceania Championship

The cyclist from Primaflor Mondraker, Bec Henderson, was crowned Australian XCO Champion once again last week and finished third in the Oceania Championship, a good start to the season if it weren't for the fact that she ruptured a ligament in her ankle between those two races, which will condition her start to the World Cup season.

Rebecca Henderson injured, ligament rupture in ankle, after winning the Australian Championship

The XCO season in Oceania starts earlier than in other countries with the celebration of their national and continental championships at the beginning of the year. Two key dates for the cyclist from Primaflor Mondraker, Bec Henderson, who had been winning them consecutively since 2019, but this year an ankle injury occurred right between the two events. This is how she explained it on her social media:

Every summer there are 2 races that I try to reach in my best condition. The National Championship and the Oceania Championship. These are also the races we were using as preparation for the opening of the World Cup, in early April in Brazil.

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Last Thursday after arriving at Awaba from the nationals, I had a very small accident at low speed. It was just like a pedal release. But before hitting the ground, it already hurt a lot. I had instant swelling, nausea, dizziness, and ringing ears just from the intense pain. Getting out of the forest was a challenge that I'm not sure I could have done alone!!

It wasn't the ideal time for the two important summer races or before the big races, but here we go.

Fortunately, all the advice from the best we know in Australia and Spain was optimistic and in the same line, so I'm heading back to Canberra and we're going to start rehabilitation and take it day by day.

Ankle update:
Complete rupture (grade 3) injuries of the ATFL and calcaneal fixation of the CFL. The PTFL is intact.

Partial tear related to the contusion (grade 2) of the anterior deltoid ligament with a sprain shown elsewhere.

With a good bandage and help to get on the bike, I surprisingly have little pain, but walking and moving freely is still a battle.

Yesterday in Oceania, I couldn't ask more of my body. My ankle was pretty good, but my feelings on the bike and in general were that I had been beaten up. I did my best with what I had, but what I had wasn't much.

The old lady now feels like she has aged another 30 years, send me your support.

The XCO World Cup will start on April 12th in Brazil and Henderson is usually one of the shining stars in these early races precisely because of the good form that the Oceania races demand from her. We hope she recovers as best and as soon as possible.