Tracey Hannah has won her ninth Elite Women Downhill Australian Championships with a flawless run on the final day of the 2016 Subaru Australian MTB Championships in Bright, Victoria.
The 27-year-old proved just why she has reigned in her division since taking her first title back in 2004, with Lisa Mathison (QLD) and Danielle Beecroft (NSW) rounding out the podium.
“It’s good take that form overseas with me and to fly the Aussie flag over there makes me really proud to race for this country.”
It would be Hannah’s only Australian competition ahead of the Cairns World Cup next month, and the Queenslander didn’t let the huge contingent of fans down that cheered her down the course.
“Everybody knows my name and my nickname.”
“It’s really good the support and look forward to that when we have the world cup it’s gonna be a million times that in my home town can’t wait.”
Despite a hiccup at the start of the seeding run on Saturday which saw her flip over the handlebars, the world number three would still record the fastest time for the finals.
“I put a lot of pressure on myself to have a good run.”
With world number 12 Tegan Molloy missing with a broken collarbone, it was left to the returning Beecroft to throw the down the gauntlet, and the New South Wales rider held the hot-seat with a 5:15:87 run.
That was until 2004 Athens Cross Country Olympian Lisa Mathieson, tossed age aside and took the top spot by 10seconds, showing she’s revelling in being back on the big stage.
“Wicked to be back to have a crack at this level of racing, and a bonus to come back and face riders like Tracey at the Nationals and be amongst this atmosphere.”
However Hannah was tearing down Mystic Mountain and left no doubt as to who would be taking home the gold for record ninth time.
She clocked 4:39:12 more than 16 seconds ahead of her fellow Queenslander.