The newly crowned Junior Women’s Downhill World Champ Tegan Molloy is a true mountain girl. Growing up in the ski town of Jindabyne in the Snowy Mountains, she started mountain biking when she was twelve as part of school sports at Jindabyne Central School. Riding every Friday afternoon she rode pretty hard around the trails on her dad’s STP hardtail. One summer she asked her parents if she could give downhill a go at Thredbo. She rode it twice and for Christmas that year she got her first downhill bike; a Kona Stinky. She just loved being outdoors and riding her bike.
Tegan has been riding for six years now. This past Australian winter Tegan has been overseas racing the World Cup circuit. Eight world cups and the world champs, through Europe and South Africa. Winning five races from seven starts and the World Championships in Hafjell, Norway to take the title of World Champion. “It was an amazing experience just being able to go overseas and ride my bike, race and visit all these different parts of the world that you probably wouldn’t get to if you weren’t mountain biking. It’s pretty cool to be on the track and riding with the people that I look up to, like Mick and Tracey Hannah. They’ve got a lot of time for me which is nice. They’ll help me with lines if I’m having trouble, they’re probably my two biggest inspirations.”
Back in Australia, this summer Tegan will be wearing the rainbow stripes for the season, riding in the Cannonball at Thredbo in December and selected Vic rounds of the National Series. Her goal for next season is to race the World Cup circuit again, this time as a first year in the elite category. “I’d like to consistently make the top 15 and eventually get up into the top 10.” Competing asa junior, Tegan’s best result this year was 11th overall at Mont Saint Anne, just outside the top 10 and 13th at world champs. “I’d like to get a few more of those results. My confidence grew throughout the season. You don’t get much practice time and it’s quite hard to come straight up to speed without really knowing the track.” she tells me.
Thredbo has been and continues to be a great training ground for Tegan. “It’s got some fast sections like the world cup track, it’s got the vertical as well, just maybe not as much technical,” she says.
Being a world champ is a dream come true for Tegan, now she is an inspiration to other riders. A world champ with the world at her feet. Well done Tegs.
