Caroline Buchanan Wins Female Rider Of The Year Award!

Friday 15 October 2010

Caroline Buchanan sent through a new blog, and has some big news about her recent events...

A record number of riders entered the final round of the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup in FRÉJUS France, 198 men and from 47 women from 27 countries. With the Olympics just two short years away the interest in the world’s fastest growing action sport is rising.

The Australian Team spent a few weeks in Europe after the recent World Cup in the USA. We spent a few days at the World Cycling Center in Aigle Switzerland preparing for the World Cup. My back had a flare up from a disc injury last year which put me off the bike for a few days luckily I recovered quickly.

World Cup leader Le Corguillé crashed in the time trials and was out of competition. 2009 BMX World Champion Sarah Walker won the time trial 0.95seconds in front of myself. Placing 2nd in the time trial was really important for Olympic Country Points and my overall World Cup ranking as seven other elite women were all in the mix to claim 2nd and 3rd spot in the 2010 World Cup standings.

Racing started out good for myself until there was some carnage that I got caught up in over the 1st jump in the quarterfinal round. I crashed going roughly 50kph and got back up to progress through to the semi final. I rode the semi final with my shoulder a leg in a lot of pain. I didn't progress through to the final but having a podium result in Madrid, a consistent season and great time trial results always being in the top 5 throughout the year ranked me in 2nd position in the overall World Cup series.

At 7pm the night of racing I was walking up the stairs in the hotel and felt instant pain in my leg. I hopped to reception screaming for ice and an ambulance, I went to hospital to get checked out with a 4cm high lump on my leg. Turns out I had burst a blood vessel in my leg and I had taken some Ibuprofen for my shoulder that increased the bleeding and didn't help the situation.

I was watching the clock tick my 9pm in the hospital when I found out that my coach Wade Bootes who was at the end of year Swatch Awards night collected my trophy for 2nd in the series and also collecting my trophy for winning the people vote "Female BMX Rider Of The Year".

I am waiting a few more days in Italy at the moment till it is safe to fly home to get MRI's on my shoulder and leg and progress back to training and a rehab/functional conditioning period preparing for next years busy schedule.

  • By Allan H