Hayley Preen has revealed that she won this year’s African Continental Road Race Championship while unknowingly racing with a broken hand – a detail that reframes her victory as one of the most resilient performances of her career.
After finally spending enough time at home to have the injury examined, Preen learned that the persistent pain she had been pushing through for nearly two months was caused by a fracture that never had the chance to heal. She had continued to train and compete as normal, even attempting to race her mountain bike at Little Sugar, where handling the bike became almost impossible. Now the reason is clear.
What makes the discovery even more striking is that she secured the continental title during this period, adding another major accolade to a palmarès that already includes multiple African championship medals, national titles and victories across both road and off-road disciplines. Winning Africa’s flagship road race is demanding in any circumstances, but doing so with a broken hand is a testament to her toughness, race instinct and willingness to push beyond discomfort.
Preen has long been one of South Africa’s most adaptable athletes, moving from equestrian and triathlon into elite cycling, and quickly establishing herself at the international level. Her 2021 national road title, African Games victories, and appearances at the World Championships reflect a rider accustomed to performing under pressure – but her latest success stands out for the sheer physical adversity involved.
Riding through the injury has come with a cost. Because she kept loading the hand, the fracture has not healed properly. She has now stepped off the bike to allow full recovery, recognising that short-term suffering cannot outweigh long-term health. As she put it in her update, she is determined to reset fully so she can return with a body capable of performing at its best.
Her continental victory will be remembered not just as another line in her results, but as evidence of remarkable grit. Preen raced – and won – Africa’s premier road title with a broken hand, only discovering the true extent of the injury afterwards. Now her focus shifts to healing, with every intention of coming back stronger.
