Sid Taberlay and Trent Lowe at the start(Image credit: Russell Baker)
The elite men all ready to go(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Elite men lined up for the cross country in Bright(Image credit: Russell Baker)
The men role out in Bright(Image credit: Russell Baker)
The elite men start the cross country(Image credit: Russell Baker)
An elite male cross country racer(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Dan McConnell on his way to winning(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Dan McConnell(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Australian national champ Chris Jongewaard(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Paul van der Ploeg(Image credit: Russell Baker)
A Target Trek racer(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Bright elite men's cross country podium(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Bright elite men's cross country podium(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Bright elite men's cross country podium(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Bec Henderson in action(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Dan McConnell (Trek Factory Racing) on his way to a cross country win in Bright(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Rebecca Henderson (Trek Factory Racing) on her way to a cross country win in Bright(Image credit: Russell Baker)
2012 London Olympians and Trek Factory Racing teammates Rebecca Henderson and Daniel McConnell have claimed dominant victories in the Olympic cross country in Bright, the final round of the Subaru All Mountain Cup Australian national series.
Women
Henderson contested the five lap, 6.2km course with ease and finished almost two minutes ahead of second placed Jenni King (Target Trek) and nearly three minutes in front of Tory Thomas.
The result matches Friday night's eliminator win and brings the Canberran closer to claiming her first national series title.
A victory in Sunday's point-to-point race will see Henderson leapfrog an absent Peta Mullens (Target Trek) in the overall Subaru All Mountain Cup rankings.
"If I could win the series that would be awesome," Henderson said. "Thredbo was the first time I'd won a national round so if I could take out the overall series this year that would be great."
The under 23 cross country national champion led from the gun and after the first lap, had a 40 second lead to a chasing King before Henderson broke away from the field to maintain a solid lead for the remaining four laps.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"I started really hard and Jen obviously went out hard as well, I didn't quite get as big of a lead as I would have liked in the first lap so I felt the pressure but as the race progressed - I could see I was getting a little bit further away," Henderson said.
"The steep climbing suited me really well so I was feeling good considering I have done a lot of travel and a lot of racing in the last few weeks. I'm happy to still have good legs and hold the form for the win," Henderson said of her arrival into Australia on Thursday after claiming the cross country win in the first round of the American national series.
Men
McConnell also claimed the men's cross country round one US national series win in what was the pair's first race with Trek Factory Racing.
"Two weeks ago in the USA, that win was really special," McConnell said. "It was the first race with the Trek Factory team, and it was good to cement our spot in the team."
"It's good to get two wins back to back and Oceania's are in two weeks which are a really big goal for me."
On lap three, McConnell made his move from series leader Chris Jongewaard and Paul van der Ploeg, the attack resulting in the two-time Olympian clocking the fastest lap of the day.
McConnell quickly established a 30-second lead on the group before steadily extending his lead for the remaining laps.
The Victorian finished the race two minutes ahead of cross country national champion Chris Jongewaard (Jetblack/Lightsview) and a further three minutes to Paul van der Ploeg (Giant).
"I didn't want to leave it to chance this race so I went on the attack," McConnell said. "I felt pretty good on the climbs - I was able to get a gap and ride my own race and I felt really comfortable."
"It is a tough course, I was happy to be away but very conscious to keep the pace up and clock up some decent lap times," McConnell said.
Sunday's action will see the cross country point-to-point race concluding the Subaru All Mountain Cup series.
In Luke Tuckwell's latest column for Cyclingnews, he recalls his memorable week in France, and how he went from tears in training to his first yellow jersey
