Rainbow jersey for Tanya Bailey as Albany mountain biker wins Masters World Championship after bumpy ride
Albany-based Olympian and now downhill star Tanya Bailey claimed a thrilling rainbow jersey victory at the 2025 Masters Mountain Bike World Championships in Cairns on May 17.
She pipped fellow Australian Rachel White by finishing the tricky course in 4 minutes 33.356 seconds to take the downhill mountain bike title in the 40-44 age group by just over two-tenths of a second.
White was leading at the fourth split, but Bailey found enough in her legs to pip her over the final stretch.
Bailey's time was the fastest of all female competitors and placed her 10th overall in the downhill event.
The hurdles along the way to victory were not only found on the course as she had a trail bike, not a downhill bike, and the seeding run was cancelled after a bad crash.
The seeding run determines in which order riders will race so Bailey had just one chance to make it count.
'The downhill bikes have more travel in the suspension and can take bigger hits, but my little trail bike did the business,' she said.
'I just finished with very, very sore arms.'
Bailey decided to enter at the last minute having debated whether it was wise to hurl herself down a mountain before starting a new job.
'I had no sick leave, and the track was a lot steeper and faster than I am used to in WA,' she said.
The nerves were high for about three days solid beforehand.'
The delay and then cancellation of the seeding race was also disturbing as she had to wait at the top of the track without food or water for an hour.
'It was the same for everyone but no-one likes a last-minute change of schedule.,' Bailey said.
'I did the run and it wasn't perfect but it was good enough to win, and everyone likes to win.'
In fact, the 2008 Beijing Olympian said becoming champion was less fulfilling than conquering those pre-race hassles which had hampered her build-up.
'I miss some elements of racing at the real elite level — especially the fitness and strength I had then — but it was really good to overcome those hurdles,' she said.
White came home in 4.33.574 for second place with the pair well ahead of Kristy Kerrisk who finished in 5.01.172 for an all-Australian podium.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
19 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Bavuma review leaves Aussie fans frustrated
An early review from South African captain Temba Bavuma has fired up aggrieved Aussie fans on the second morning of the World Test Championship Final at Lord's. Australia started the day in prime position despite crumbling to 212 all out on day one, having reduced the Proteas' top order to 4-43. However, it was not enough for fans as it became five down, Bavuma appearing to miss a ball from Josh Hazlewood that nipped back into his pads. Umpire Chris Gaffney needed little convincing of the LBW shout, raising the finger and prompting Australian celebrations. The South African skipper hesitated before calling the review late. As the replays rolled, Snicko technology showed a noise as the red Dukes ball passed Bavuma's inside edge, third umpire Richard Kettleborough convinced it was enough to overturn the dismissal, saving Bavuma. But Australian fans fumed, the replays showing a gap between bat and ball with Bavuma's white-wrapped off stump visible between the two. One X account said: 'If the third umpire used his two eyes he would see it was obvious the bloke missed the ball. Incompetence seems to run through ICC umpires.' Bavuma made the most of the reprieve, starting to take the attack to the favourites after South Africa's placid efforts in the final hour of the opening day nearly undid their bowlers' hard work. He and David Bedingham combined for a 64-run partnership, having guided the Proteas to the drinks break without loss. The Aussies would not be held down, though, as under-pressure batter Marnus Labuschagne showed his worth in the field with a nice diving catch at cover to remove the captain for 36 off the bowling of Pat Cummins. Bavuma had hit Cummins for a six in his previous over. Approaching lunch, South Africa trailed Australia's first innings by 113 runs with Bedingham and Kyle Verreynne at the crease.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Cheika's secret as glorious farewell beckons
Michael Cheika wants his Leicester players to trust each other one more time and finish their season journey together with victory over Bath in the Gallagher Premiership final, which will be his last match in charge. Australian Cheika will leave the Tigers at the end of his one-year contract, with former Leicester player Geoff Parling set to take charge in the summer. Cheika - who guided the Wallabies to the 2015 World Cup final and then took Argentina into the last four two years ago - has been credited with transforming the mentality of a Leicester squad who finished eighth in the 2023-24 campaign. The 58-year-old, though, maintains the Tigers' progress this season - finishing second in the table and then beating Sale in the play-off semi-finals - is very much down to a collective effort. "That is a really fundamental part of building teams," said Cheika, whose Leinster side won the 2009 European Champions Cup before he then took the NSW Waratahs to the 2014 Super Rugby title. "First they have got to be able to trust each other - we have got to be able to have honest conversations and being prepared to have a fight with each other. "As long as it is a fight where you are going in the same direction, then you are trying to get the same thing done, that's okay. "Building up mentally is important and it is a continual workout - you have never arrived at the place you have got to be at, because every time you meet another challenge, you have got to then go and delve into that. "I have definitely learned a lot from them and I hope they have been able to learn a bit from me." Cheika added: "They are playing as part of a team, and in the team, those dynamics are extremely important. "We are going to need that on Saturday, because we are playing against the team that dominated the league and we need to find a way to master that opponent." Cheika, though, does not want his players turning up at the Allianz Stadium just to enjoy the occasion - which will be the last game before club stalwarts Dan Cole and Ben Youngs retire while Tigers captain Julian Montoya and South Africa fly-half Handre Pollard are also set to move on. "You work hard to get yourself in a position to have an opportunity at the title, so when it is there, you would be mad not to take it," Cheika said. "Together, we have built a good deal. We have improved our mental preparation and our the mental side of our game, the resilience or the grit that we have got in games. "But you are going to need more than just that as well - you need quality, you need all those things. "I suppose it is more just about being ready to balance out what is the emotional part and what is the technical part, and make sure you have got both of those clearly defined as to what their use is." Michael Cheika wants his Leicester players to trust each other one more time and finish their season journey together with victory over Bath in the Gallagher Premiership final, which will be his last match in charge. Australian Cheika will leave the Tigers at the end of his one-year contract, with former Leicester player Geoff Parling set to take charge in the summer. Cheika - who guided the Wallabies to the 2015 World Cup final and then took Argentina into the last four two years ago - has been credited with transforming the mentality of a Leicester squad who finished eighth in the 2023-24 campaign. The 58-year-old, though, maintains the Tigers' progress this season - finishing second in the table and then beating Sale in the play-off semi-finals - is very much down to a collective effort. "That is a really fundamental part of building teams," said Cheika, whose Leinster side won the 2009 European Champions Cup before he then took the NSW Waratahs to the 2014 Super Rugby title. "First they have got to be able to trust each other - we have got to be able to have honest conversations and being prepared to have a fight with each other. "As long as it is a fight where you are going in the same direction, then you are trying to get the same thing done, that's okay. "Building up mentally is important and it is a continual workout - you have never arrived at the place you have got to be at, because every time you meet another challenge, you have got to then go and delve into that. "I have definitely learned a lot from them and I hope they have been able to learn a bit from me." Cheika added: "They are playing as part of a team, and in the team, those dynamics are extremely important. "We are going to need that on Saturday, because we are playing against the team that dominated the league and we need to find a way to master that opponent." Cheika, though, does not want his players turning up at the Allianz Stadium just to enjoy the occasion - which will be the last game before club stalwarts Dan Cole and Ben Youngs retire while Tigers captain Julian Montoya and South Africa fly-half Handre Pollard are also set to move on. "You work hard to get yourself in a position to have an opportunity at the title, so when it is there, you would be mad not to take it," Cheika said. "Together, we have built a good deal. We have improved our mental preparation and our the mental side of our game, the resilience or the grit that we have got in games. "But you are going to need more than just that as well - you need quality, you need all those things. "I suppose it is more just about being ready to balance out what is the emotional part and what is the technical part, and make sure you have got both of those clearly defined as to what their use is." Michael Cheika wants his Leicester players to trust each other one more time and finish their season journey together with victory over Bath in the Gallagher Premiership final, which will be his last match in charge. Australian Cheika will leave the Tigers at the end of his one-year contract, with former Leicester player Geoff Parling set to take charge in the summer. Cheika - who guided the Wallabies to the 2015 World Cup final and then took Argentina into the last four two years ago - has been credited with transforming the mentality of a Leicester squad who finished eighth in the 2023-24 campaign. The 58-year-old, though, maintains the Tigers' progress this season - finishing second in the table and then beating Sale in the play-off semi-finals - is very much down to a collective effort. "That is a really fundamental part of building teams," said Cheika, whose Leinster side won the 2009 European Champions Cup before he then took the NSW Waratahs to the 2014 Super Rugby title. "First they have got to be able to trust each other - we have got to be able to have honest conversations and being prepared to have a fight with each other. "As long as it is a fight where you are going in the same direction, then you are trying to get the same thing done, that's okay. "Building up mentally is important and it is a continual workout - you have never arrived at the place you have got to be at, because every time you meet another challenge, you have got to then go and delve into that. "I have definitely learned a lot from them and I hope they have been able to learn a bit from me." Cheika added: "They are playing as part of a team, and in the team, those dynamics are extremely important. "We are going to need that on Saturday, because we are playing against the team that dominated the league and we need to find a way to master that opponent." Cheika, though, does not want his players turning up at the Allianz Stadium just to enjoy the occasion - which will be the last game before club stalwarts Dan Cole and Ben Youngs retire while Tigers captain Julian Montoya and South Africa fly-half Handre Pollard are also set to move on. "You work hard to get yourself in a position to have an opportunity at the title, so when it is there, you would be mad not to take it," Cheika said. "Together, we have built a good deal. We have improved our mental preparation and our the mental side of our game, the resilience or the grit that we have got in games. "But you are going to need more than just that as well - you need quality, you need all those things. "I suppose it is more just about being ready to balance out what is the emotional part and what is the technical part, and make sure you have got both of those clearly defined as to what their use is."
The Age
2 hours ago
- The Age
‘Bash them': The Anzac team tasked with softening up Lions for Wallabies
While no players have yet been confirmed for the 2025 AUNZ Invitation side, former All Blacks coach Ian Foster has been appointed as an assistant. And Kiss said he envisaged there being a healthy number of New Zealanders, alongside a contingent of Australian players either released from the Wallabies squad or picked from the state sides. 'I'd imagine anywhere from six to ten New Zealanders at least and the rest will be open,' Kiss said on Stan's Rugby Heaven. 'There's talk about probably making sure we have enough avenue for Wallabies players to have access to that game, particularly as it's the last major match before the Test series starts. No doubt there's going to be some moves in that area to get some players in there, to be able to give them more game time, and [give] Joe [Schmidt] and the coaching team at the Wallabies more insight to what they're looking at in terms of their players. 'Make no mistake, we want to try and get that quality in, for sure, [but] in the right positions that allow us to expose the players that we want to. We don't want to close out any opportunities for our [Australian] guys in certain positions. So, those discussions will be ongoing, and we need to be fluid right to the last minutes.' With the AUNZ game scheduled as the last tour game before the first Test in Brisbane a week later, the Lions will almost certainly deploy the first-choice team they intend to use at Suncorp Stadium. When putting the 2025 tour schedule together, the Lions management were at pains to say they didn't want to play a quasi fourth Test against an Australia 'A' side. In a hard-fought and feisty clash in 2001, an Australia A side coached by Eddie Jones rolled the Lions in Gosford, and several other tour matches also saw the Lions cop mountains of aggression and physicality from the Australian state sides. Though it may have a festival vibe, Kiss said there would be a huge intensity to the AUNZ-Lions clash and the hosts will also be looking to do their part to help the Wallabies a week later. Loading 'I think if you look at what the possibilities could be in terms of personalities in that squad, there's going to be a lot of competitive people there. They'll want to do something special themselves,' Kiss said. 'I can't see anything but a super competitive battle, really. They're going to be loaded. They're very physical, very talented right across the squad. We'll do our best to get out there and bash them, for sure. 'We want to make sure we make it an enjoyable experience, but get out there and make sure we do a job that can soften the Lions up a bit for us.'
