//INTERVIEW:
TRACY MOSELEY
Fastest woman of the day
[Seeding Thursday 24th]
Talked to Tracy Moseley while she was warming down on her wind trainer after her training runs. She is looking in top form at the moment, and in the post-Anne-Caro era, she looks every bit the heir apparent to the crown left vacant by the French queen of downhill’s retirement.
NZRIDE: How are you finding the track?
MOSELEY: Yeah good, its quite a bit different than when I was here in march when it was dry and dusty, although that was quite challenging in the steep sections. Its developing some tacky lines. Its pretty interesting. It’s a whole different kind of skill required now.
NZRIDE: Going into seeding – any tricks?
MOSELEY: There will be plenty of games.
NZRIDE: How much slower than it was in the dry?
MOSELEY: Depends on how this weather holds, its actually pretty tacky. Its more grippy through the larches than it was in the dry. Almost too grippy for some riders. The alterations haven’t made much difference, although the rock garden turn is slower. I don’t think it will be that much different.
NZRIDE: Any of the girls doing the pond jump?
MOSELEY: I don’t think so. I was kinda tempted but the more it got wet this morning the more difficult the run into it got. A lot of the guys aren’t doing it. When you land you have to be pretty strong to hold onto it. If it stays dry then over the next few days maybe some women will do it, but if it rains any more then no way.
NZRIDE: So have you ruled it out of your run?
MOSELEY: Well it is ruled out for this afternoon’s seeding run.
NZRIDE: Have you got all your lines sorted?
MOSELEY: Pretty much. There’s a few places where I think there’s not much difference in a couple of lines.
NZRIDE: Was coming down in march useful to you?
MOSELEY: Definitely. It means that I came down here already knowing what to expect. I come here for the first run and I know where I’m going, I don’t have to learn the overall lay out. It makes it more relaxed. It gives you a chance to be mentally prepared.
NZRIDE: Do you rate this track?
MOSELEY: It reminds me quite a lot of stuff back at home really. We don’t have huge big mountains so a lot of it is grass, tree sections are quite tight to make the track a bit longer. The only thing different is with most world cups is they tend to have some high speed open section just because they have so much hill to use. You don’t have gnarly rock sections here. They’ve taken the hill and put in some nice technical features. Its good, its going to produce a good race.
NZRIDE: So are you confident?
MOSELEY: Yeah I think so, I had a good year. Preparation, everything is going good. Going to give it my best shot.
NZRIDE: How do you think Vanessa will go?
MOSELEY: I think she’ll do well. She hasn’t been racing since march but on this track she has been practicing for the last month. If anyone knows how to win a world champs, She is the only one in the whole field that has won a world champs. She is the only one to have won a world cup during the Anne Caro era (Anne Caroline Chausson retired last year after 11 World Champs Golds in 12 years) so to an extent she has an advantage because she knows what it is like to be world champ. She’s got a home crowd, it’ll be amazing to have a home crowd.
NZRIDE: You’ve almost got a home crowd here! You have spent several summers here now.
MOSELEY: I haven’t written Vanessa off, I know that some people have because she hasn’t been racing, but she knows how to win.
NZRIDE: Who else will be up there?
MOSELEY: Sabrina, Rachel.
NZRIDE: Any dark horses?
MOSELEY: Scarlet can pull out a ride, if she can stay on.
NZRIDE: What about local girl Jenna Makgill?
MOSELEY: Yeah, Jenna, I watched a few races in Europe and she’s got a few results, I beat her by nothing really. She has been looking more comfortable recently. But be great to see her pull out a result, it would be really hard earned.
NZRIDE: How is the uplift working?
MOSELEY: Pretty good actually, I’ve not had top wait more than 5 minutes. The turn around is slow, but I think coming from Britain where you can wait an hour and a half I’m not bothered here too much. I’ve been quite impressed. There are very few riders on the track at one time, although when you are watching riders come through in batches of ten separated by big gaps, where a chairlift provides a flow of riders.
NZRIDE: What is your favorite part of the track.
MOSELEY: I like the start, it’s a steep rutty section. This last bit coming off the boardwalk is really fun.
NZRIDE: Britain vs. Australia, those are the two countries to watch?
MOSELEY: Well you can never write off France. They have the biggest team infrastructure at the world champs. They are ten timers on the course.
NZRIDE: So who is going to take that three way battle?
MOSELEY: That is wide open!
NZRIDE: Why does Great Britain produce such good riders. It just doesn’t have that many big hills.
MOSELEY: No. But there is hundreds of riders and tons of riding going on, and lots of track getting built, and the main reason is success builds success. Steve was doing well at world cups. Then we have got good magazines. Lots of films. Lots of stuff to aspire to, and personally I think that is what drives it.
Tracy always seems so relaxed, but don’t doubt this women’s drive to win. After our interview Tracy’s day played out pretty well. Her quiet confidence was rewarded with the fastest seeding time amongst the women, nearly 3 ½ seconds ahead of Sabrina Jonnier in second. She is looking every part the quiet champion.
NZRIDE REPORTER: MIKE CARDEN
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