World’s best racers will get dust flying
MOUNTAIN BIKE A DUSTY Smithfield track will greet the world’s mountain bike stars as riders make the pilgrimage from Europe for the 2017 UCI Mountain Bike World Championship next week.
Hometown favourite Tracey Hannah will return to Cairns this week after a solid third place in the UCI World Cup final round at Val di Sole, Italy, at the weekend – a result which sealed third overall in the series. the final day of competition with Cape York Eagles, Centrals Trinity Beach, Cairns Saints, Manunda Hawks and Cairns City Lions all taking home flags in their respective divisions.
Under lights, the talented Eagles made it three premierships
The 29-year-old was 3.84 seconds adrift of British rider Tahnee Seagrave in the final last weekend, and less than one second behind French rider Myriam Nicole, who did enough to be crowned overall World Cup series winner.
Hannah, who is ranked No.2 in the world, reflected on her result via Instagram, happy with her podium effort and a season that yielded her first World Cup win since 2012.
“With a few ups and downs this season happy to walk away on the box stoked with racing,” she said. in a row in the Colts division, proving too strong for the skilful Manunda Hawks.
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The Italy result came on the back of a win in the Canadian Open, proof the region’s mountain bike queen, who now calls Trinity Beach home, is fit and firing as she eyes the biggest prize of all.
US gun Aaron Gwin looks to be the biggest challenger to Mick Hannah and 2016 World Cup second-placegetter and Aussie world No.1 Troy Brosnan for the men’s downhill title next week, following a dominant season’s-end win in Val di Sole.
But a dry track, thanks to just 1.4mm of rain falling on 2017 with newcomer Chelsea Oxlade influential in the win.
AFL Cairns junior co-ordinator Tim Mackrill said holding the matches on the same day created a carnival atmosphere.
“We had six different clubs involved on Sunday, which Cairns throughout August so far, is set to pose an entirely different test for riders at Smithfield.
Glen Jacobs and his team are this week putting the final touches on both the downhill and cross country courses and the World Trail owner said it was an exciting time, particularly with the sibling act primed for the world titles.
“Tracey is up there and finished third and had many podiums this year and I think it’s a great thing,” he said. “It’s going to be amazing. “I was talking to Mick this was really pleasing,” he said. “There was a lot of really good talent on show with a number of kids ... maybe getting drafted over the next few years.
“Over the course of the day, we had over 1500 people come watch the footy. Every game had a vocal crowd.” week and he missed the final round so he could spend some time back home and he really wants this to be his.”
Jacobs said some parts of the track had been altered on the feedback of members of the Australian team after their training camp in Cairns last week as organisers seek to give the home team a competitive advantage for the showpiece event.
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