27-05-2025
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.
