Enduro World Series Finale – The Tracy Moseley Interview

Dave caught up with three times World Enduro Series Women’s Champion Tracy Moseley straight after the race in Finale to get her thoughts on her plans, the future, and that retirement rumour…

I’ll always be a bike racer so I think right now the first step is that I won’t defend this title, that’s where I’m at.

ST: So I guess it’s been a pretty emotional end to this year’s series.

TM: Yeah I don’t think it’ll properly sink in until a few days down the line, when I get home probably and back to reality. It’s been a hard one, I came into this round with thoughts about would this be my last ever Enduro World Series race entirely; I knew I wasn’t going to defend the title and race the whole series, but I still haven’t taken the decision whether to race a few of the rounds next year. All sorts of stuff has been going on the last couple of months in my mind, I got pretty nervous yesterday just setting off. I wanted to end this year off with a win, even if it wasn’t necessary, but you don’t know how far to push it.

ST: So your future is still uncertain?

TM: It’s been a funny one, I’ve done nothing but ride my bike now for pretty much twenty years, apart from a bit of education, so it’s been a massive decision to make. But I don’t think saying I’ll be retiring would be right, because I’ll always be a bike racer so I think right now the first step is that I won’t defend this title, that’s where I’m at.

I still want to be in the industry, I still want to be at races, and I still want to be involved in the continuing evolution of enduro really, because it’s been fun, it’s been a lot of fun for the last three years and I look forward to seeing where it goes from the year on I guess.

I think with us old farts out of the way it’ll make it more exciting racing if I’m entirely honest and I think that’s what the sport needs.

ST: The fact that yourself and Anne Caro are scaling back leaves things open for the up and coming girls I guess?

TM: For sure, in some ways if I’m entirely honest the Women’s racing this year has been pretty boring, it’s either been me or Anne Caro or Cecile that have won, or this year just me and Anne Caro. You know there’s a big gap back, there has been to the third, fourth and fifth places and I think without both of us there things will get more exciting. At the moment I guess Cecile is the dominant force, but I still think space for the likes of well Ines (Thoma) was on the podium today, isabeau (Courdurier) has been racing well. there’s space for them on the podium now, Anneke (Beerten), there’s a bunch of young girls and they’ve got some pretty tight racing going on, so I think with us old farts out of the way it’ll make it more exciting racing if I’m entirely honest and I think that’s what the sport needs.

It needs a good tight battle, to see that next generation pushing each other, to encourage more young girls to take part.

ST: You’ve been doing quite a bit of that; bringing young girls on.

TM: YeahI’ve found a few ex XC girls that perhaps wouldn’t have got on that British Cycling programme; Martha’s been doing really well at the UK races and she’s done three of the Enduro World Series now, it’s a big step up for an eighteen year old but she’s properly taking it in her stride now. I’ve had a few more pointed in my direction this year, and they’re good technical riders. I really enjoy that side of it, and it’s definitely something I’d like to devote more time and effort into as I put less focus on my own training and racing

So, yeah,  I guess we’ll see what happens…

Dave Anderson

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