Glasgow: Australian Rebecca Henderson secured a brave bronze medal in the women’s mountain biking after a gruelling tussle throughout with Trek Factory teammate Emily Batty.
The pair were shoulder to shoulder for the duration of the race, behind Canadian Catherine Pendrel who dominated the misty Cathkin Braes trail finishing a minute and 10 seconds clear.
Henderson’s bronze was Australia’s second mountain biking medal at a Commonwealth Games, emulating Mary Grigson’s result at the Manchester race in 2002.
She had led Canadian Batty at the halfway point before falling narrowly behind. On lap six she piled the pressure on through one of the bouncy chicanes, but couldn’t force her way past finishing 12 seconds off Batty.
Pendrel continued Canada’s domination of the Commonwealth Games women’s mountain biking scene. The North American nation has won all three gold medals in the event’s fledgling history, and also won gold in the men’s 2002 event through Roland Green.
Mountain biking wasn’t on the roster at the Delhi Games four years ago.
Henderson’s coach and partner Daniel McConnell will start as favourite in the men’s event.
