August 21, 2005
Mountain Biking: Moseley moves mountains to conquer the world
Downhill mountain biking is one of the most dangerous sports around, but that
hasn’t put off Tracy Moseley, who goes into today’s penultimate round of the
World Cup with victory in her sights, writes Rob Maul
WHENEVER Tracy Moseley makes a mistake, it hurts. With even the slightest of
slips, she runs the risk of breaking a bone. Which is not surprising given that
her sport involves careering down muddy slopes on a bicycle, reaching speeds of
50mph, and all the while dodging trees.
“One miscalculation is all it takes,” she says. “It really is that easy. You
almost have to ride cautiously at times to make sure you will remain in one
piece for the next competition.”
Welcome to the world of downhill mountain biking. Even with full body
protection, concussion and broken bones are common as riders sprint along marked
courses more than 2,500m long at gradients of one in four. It is the adrenaline
rush that distracts riders from the dangers. “There is nothing like it,” says
Moseley. “I am lucky to do what I do. The shock is going to come when I retire
and have to get a real job. People think I am mad but it is a brilliant sport.”
It is also a successful one for Britain, which has consistently produced top
riders, including Steve Peat, from Sheffield, last year’s World Cup and European
champion.
At the age of 26, Moseley has established herself as Britain’s top female rider
and is one of the best professional riders in the world. She is currently in
second place, behind the Frenchwoman Sabrina Jonnier, in this year’s UCI World
Cup, which has its penultimate round in Pila, Italy, today. The final round is
at Fort William next month, with the climax to the World Cup being separated by
the world championships, also in Italy, to make for a frantic end to the season.
Brought up on a 140-acre dairy farm in Malvern, Worcestershire, Moseley spent
much of her childhood milking cows until she turned to riding.
“Let’s just say that my parents never expected me to work on the farm but hoped
I would,” says Moseley. “They are very open minded and insisted I had a good
education. Like any parent, if a child shows an interest in something that keeps
them off the streets, then they will help them achieve their goals. As my riding
began to progress, I was encouraged to be the best I could.”
Inspired by her older brother Ed, who was a top 10 British rider, Moseley
started racing at the age of 13 and found she had a flair for the sport. By 15,
she had won junior titles and, in 1997, while studying for her A levels, she
took silver at the junior world championships. After completing a biology degree
at Sheffield University, she took to downhill racing full time.
Like most sports, the financial rewards are not in line with those for men. The
income of a top male rider can exceed £100,000 a year, while the leading women
average about £15,000. Moseley is unperturbed. “There are plenty of worse jobs,”
she says. “Where else would I get the chance to travel the world? I have raced
in Japan, America, Russia, and most of Europe. I do it for the love and
enjoyment, and not for the money.”
And what about the pain? “If the time comes that I am scared to approach a
track, then what is the point of carrying on? As soon as it is not fun any more,
or I am scared of making a mistake, then it is time to stop.”
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