Rebecca Henderson records best ever Olympic result in Paris

Eight times cross-country has been part of the Olympic Games and Rebecca Henderson has raced in four of them.

The Australian champion, who made her debut back at the London Games in 2012 lined up on the second row as she stared down the 4.4km course which was lined with passionate French fans on a perfect summer’s day at a venue that sits at the highest point in the Paris region.

By the end of the second lap the 32-year-old had pushed her way up to sit just outside the top 10.

Rebecca Henderson on course at her fourth Olympics.

The Canberran continued to plug away around the Ellencourt course before she would get a flat tyre with one and a half laps to go.

The 32 year old would go on to record her best ever Olympic result in 13^th nearly seven minutes behind the winner.

"Happy with my performance, really happy. I was focused and present.

"I was fighting for the top 10 all race which I think is not bad for the Olympics.

"I got a flat with one and a half to go which wasn't ideal but there were a lot of those," she said post race.

Rebecca Henderson would finish 13th in her fourth Olympics. Picture: Getty Images.

From the start it was the blue, white and red race kit of Loana Lecomte and country woman Pauline Ferand Prevot who set the fast pace of the seven-lap race.

Rising star Puck Pieterse from the Netherlands would join them to open up a gap to the chasing pack.

Ferrand Prevot launched her assault on the first climb into the second lap to make what would turn out to be an Olympic winning move.

Lecomte’s Games would end prematurely as she went over the bars in a nasty crash in the rock garden which ended her race.

That would leave the likes of 2016 gold medalist Jenny Rissveds and America’s Hayley Batten primed to chase down Pieterse.

A fifth lap flat would see the Dutchwoman passed and unable to regain the momentum as Rissveds and Batten intensified their chase for the dias in the dying stages.

Out front the French crowd were in full voice as the multiple world champion crossed the line to finally claim an elusive Olympic gold and end a glittering mountain bike career in front of her home fans.

Pauline Ferrand Prevot wins gold in front of her French fans. Picture: Getty Images.

Batten crossed the line in the silver position after she overcame a flat tyre and Rissveds who added another medal to her Olympic collection in third.

Results

Photo Credit: Getty Images