Sport
10 April, 2026
Champion fond of Far North
AUSTRALIAN mountain bike champion Rebecca Henderson is set to compete in Cairns as part of the Cairns Rainforest Rumble, the final round of the 2026 UCI Oceania Continental Series.
Ms Henderson arrives in strong form after claiming her 13th consecutive elite national title and winning all four races in this season’s Oceania Continental Series.
The Canberra-based rider will race at Smithfield MTB Park from 16-19 April, with a share in a $20,000 prize pool and valuable UCI points on the line ahead of the world cup season.
Ms Henderson said Cairns held a special place in her career.
“A little fun fact, my first ever world podium was in Cairns in 2016, where I finished third behind athletes I aspired to be like. For me, it is still a really cool memory,” she said.
“Cairns will always be special to me, I’m so happy to be able to go back there.
“The trails and the course set the benchmark so high as far as technical standards and hard climbing, it’s a place that has something so special that no other place has.”
The Cairns event will serve as Henderson’s final race before the world cup season begins, including an upcoming round in Korea.
“The year has gone surprisingly smoothly, I’ve had four races and four victories, we are really lucky to have this series in Australia, it helps us hugely when we take on the world cups and go overseas,” she said.
“The points that we earn are super important for the world rankings, which impacts your starting position at the world cups, that helps hugely.
“Cairns for me is the last race I get to do before the world cup two weeks later in Korea. It is a great opportunity to have a race before the really big season that is starting, that aspect is so important. It will be a dress rehearsal for world events.”
Ms Henderson has remained unbeaten at the national level since beginning her career in 2004, a record she said once brought pressure.
“I’m undefeated as Australian champion through all of the age groups and now in elite, I’ve never not won an XCO National race,” she said.
“While I was doing well in the world cup events, it always felt like I had to be the national champion. Now for me, I’ve taken the pressure off, I’m more secure in my performances and who I am, it no longer identifies who I am.”
Entries remain open for the Cairns Rainforest Rumble.
