Keeping it in the family
THE HANNAH siblings' story just keeps getting better, the brother-sister pair of Mick and Tracey each adding another national downhill title to their swag in Canberra on Sunday.
But it could be just the start, according to Cairns track designer Glen Jacobs, who dreams of seeing the pair head the list of riders in a titles return to Cairns in future.
The siblings blitzed the Stromlo Forest Park track over the weekend, remarkable for Tracey considering she only returned to the bike 10 days ago after breaking her femur and missing seven months of riding last year.
It was her fifth national title and Mick's third, and came in sometimes torrential conditions.
``That was brutal,'' older brother Mick told Cycling Australia following the win.
``It's awesome (to share the podium with Tracey). I spent some time with her in the hospital, and a couple of weeks ago I saw her for the first time since I'd left her in hospital.''
Cairns is gunning to host the 2014 and 2016 World Cups and 2017 World Mountain Bike and Trials Championship, with downhill one of the disciplines that features.
Jacobs said to have the Hannahs as the top-billing act for those events would be a perfect outcome.
``For those two and for the city,'' he said.
``The story is only really halfway through right now, hopefully. Those two have had so many ups and downs and they'd deserve to have that experience.''
Results
Elite Men
1 Mick Hannah 2:21.26, 2:27.92, 2:21.26
2 Jared Graves 2:23.09, 2:24.45, 2:23.09, (1.83)
3 Samuel Hill 2:23.48, 2:30.19, 2:23.48, (2.22)
4 Chris Kovarik 2:23.67, 2:24.62, 2:23.67, (2.41)
Elite Women
1 Tracey Hannah 2:46.53, 2:46.08, 2:46.53
2 Caroline Buchanan 2:46.96, 2:46.05, 2:46.96, (0.43)
3 Lisa Mathison 2:52.23, 3:06.42, 2:52.23, (5.70)
4 Trudy Nicholas 3:22.56, 3:20.46, 3:22.56, (36.03)
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