Bec Henderson smashes into top ten at season opener

With the UCI World Cup season, finally getting under way in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic; Bec Henderson chalked up her best result to date with an 8th place finish. In only her second year in the Elite category, Bec’s previous best World Cup result was 10th place last year in Cairns, Australia.

“I am really happy with 8th place today, it’s my best World Cup result, I am happy that everything went smoothly, the race panned out almost perfect except for one small crash on the last lap and my bike was the perfect bike for that course. My body felt strong and I was able to ride at a comfortable rate until the last push on the last lap. It’s a great start to the (late starting) season and I’m excited to hopefully keep improving.”

The day did not go as planned for teammate Emily Batty who started thirteenth, but would only move up one spot to twelfth by the finish. She felt like she could not match the power on the undulating climbs of Nove Mesto like the other girls today. Both Emily and Bec attacked the highly regarded technical sections with ease, which helped to mitigate the damage on the climbs.

Post race, Emily tried to shake off the frustration:

“The first World Cup of the year is always exciting as ever. Czech is one of the roughest of all the courses we race all year. Unfortunately lucky #13 plate didn’t pull through! I wasn’t having my best legs on the day although, I could make up so much time on the downhills that I was still able to finish 12th.”  

In the men’s race, things were looking good from the opening gun, as Dan held a top-5 positon for the first two laps. But riders around him seemed to just pull away, and the famous late race surge by Dan never really materialized as he hovered around the top-10 for most of the race, finishing 11th on the day.

“It was such a tough day today and a hard way to get back into the World Cup season. I had a good start and felt really comfortable for the first two laps but just didn’t have the power and race fitness needed to push on to contest the podium. I just really have to focus on next weekend where I get another chance and with today’s tough race in my legs I feel confident that I can move up.”

Like his teammate, Sergio had a good start before struggling in middle of the race to stay top-20. He attacked late in the race, even managing to log the third fastest time on the final lap. Unfortunately, he attacked too late to gain much ground.

“I made a good start in the top ten at the first lap. Then I chose take my tempo, but it was slow and I couldn’t take the wheel of the riders who passed me. At the final lap, I was 12th and I knew I must to be top 20 for the start in Albstadt, and then I had a very good rate and recovery positions. Disappointed I couldn’t change the speed early, only at the last lap and it was too late.”

With little time for self-doubt, the team looks to dust themselves off and focus on the second round of the World Cup this coming weekend in Albstadt, Germany. Dan and Sergio both are already reflecting on their fond memories from their performances there in 2013.  As Sergio likes to say, “we keep fighting,”