TRACEY GEARS UP
Hannah back on the bike and keen to cash-in on hot form
TRACEY Hannah is out to make sure the best form of her life will not go to waste when she hits the slopes for the start 2018 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup downhill season this week.
The Cairns rider has picked up the pieces following a shattering missed opportunity at last year’s home World Championships and promised to show her full potential in 2018 on the eve of tackling the “awkward” new track in Losinj, Croatia that has everyone guessing.
Hannah (pictured) expects to again have the World Cup title within her reach, having backed up her best campaign with a gruelling off-season.
That’s as long as she can stay on her bike after that “annoying” world title tumble.
“I definitely want to win World Cups this year,” Hannah, 29, told the Cairns Post.
“I spent the whole off-season training for that, but I definitely have to take it as it comes, because it’s downhill racing after all and anything can happen.”
“But I’ve tried to put myself in the best position to be at my best when it comes to that final timed run that I can get the result I’m aiming for.
“I kind of feel like I didn’t see my full potential last year. I guess this year I am about consistency but also showing what I’ve got, because I know I’ve got more.”
“I’d like to just stay on my bike and show people how fast I can be if I get a good run at it.”
Despite being forced off the bike in the past month due to concussion protocols following a crash in New Zealand and heavy rain closing the region’s trails, Hannah has again been working overtime in the gym and with JCU’s sport science team to make sure she’s the one her rivals are thinking about.
“I know we’ve been doing the best that we can do for what I need and you kind of get taught to not read into what they’re doing and focus on your own,” she said.
“I don’t really know and I try not to care. I want to be the one that they’re thinking about.
“I don’t want to sound vain or anything, but I’m just trying to keep to myself and do my training and ride the best that I can ride and get to the World Cups and continue doing the best I can and that’s all I can really offer when it comes down to it.”
Every rider, including Hannah and her secret prototype bike, will be flying blind to start the season at what is purported to be a unique venue on the 2018 circuit.
“This one is kind of a fresh start for everyone. It’s a World Cup track that no one’s raced in the World Cup before and I think it’s kind of nice to have everyone have to start from scratch,” she said.
“The kind of track it is it’s very different to any other track we’ve ridden, so you just have to be ready to race.”
Practice at Losinj starts tomorrow.