"The standout moments for me are actually off-bike situations from my early days of racing. I’d have been around 18 years old, and back then downhill was in its beginnings. The top riders in the sport were big names, and a lot of fun was had on and off the bike.
“One of my most vivid moments of fear was at a lavish after-race party in Canada. We had a lovely silver-service dinner on big round tables. After we finished, the guys started whipping off the tablecloths to see if anyone could leave all the glasses standing.
“Well, that obviously didn’t work out, and next thing it was a mass slinging match of wine glasses across the room. I took cover, then got out of there pretty quickly!
“There were also a few moments in the US, where I had to get a lift to races, as I wasn’t old enough to rent a car. Like when we missed our exit on the motorway and did a U-turn on the sliproad at high speed. Another was when we got a pick-up truck stuck on a garden terrace... Thankfully, I survived to still have a few moments on the bike!
Seeing helicopters come in and out all day evacuating riders was crazy. Thankfully, I made it down – not always on my bike, but I made it!
“The most memorable was on a course made famous by Danny Hart – the Champéry DH track in Switzerland. It was the year before his famous World Champs race run, when the track was new and without a lot of the catch-berms they added in 2011.
“I remember the morning practice. It was 8am, freezing cold and, after sitting on the chairlift in the pouring rain, I left the start gate wondering if I’d make it to the bottom in one piece.
“Some parts were so steep it was impossible to slow down, and seeing helicopters come in and out all day evacuating riders was crazy. Thankfully, I made it down – not always on my bike, but I made it! That track really challenged what we can do on DH bikes, even to this day."
Words - Steve Thomas
Illustration - Kevin February
About Tracy Moseley
Hailing from the Malvern Hills, Tracy is an icon of UK mountain biking who's racked up 16 Downhill World Cup wins, a DH World Championships gold medal and three Enduro World Series titles. Currently, you can see her back between the tape astride her Trek e-bike, or lending her expertise to guide the likes of Evie Richards on the cross-country world stage.
