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ROUND 1/2 - Shepparton, Australia

The 2020 UCI BMX World Cup tour kicked off down under, with Shepparton (Australia) playing host to Rounds 1 and 2 for the first time in a decade. Buchanan was both upbeat and realistic prior to the opening day. "There's a silver lining to everything. I've had to be patient I guess to have two years out of the sport, but to wait until the opportunity we've never had - to race at four World Cups in two weekends in Australia between Shepparton and Bathurst is special" she said.

"For me the results are crucial, I'm ranked outside the top 50 in the world at the moment. But I think what better way to come back to the World Cup circuit than on home soil.” Buchanan continued.

Day 1 saw Buchanan battle her way through to the Quarter-Finals, clearly finding her feet and flow again, against the best racers in the world. Unfortunately, it was not enough to progress further. 

Buchanan improved on her Day 1 Quarter-Finals result from the following day, reaching the Semi-Finals of a World Cup event for the first time since 2016 in Papendal, Holland.

Viewing the hitout as a successful return to competitive racing since her career was almost ended prematurely, Buchanan felt positive and noted the competition as having surprised her.