Brits win medals from World Master's DH Champs

By SheCycles

SheCycles.com interviews new World Master's Champion, Petra Wiltshire.

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Petra on her home turf in the Alps

How does it feel to win the Gold medal

Bloody huge relief actually, as I have won it before and was not sure if that was a fluke or not last time! This season started badly with 5 months in plaster with a badly broken hand and wrist- Scaphoid, Lunate and 4 cracks across my carpals!! I didn't think that I would be able to ride let alone race this season. I need the wrist rebreaking apparently and two bones fusing so the win makes me even more happy and will surprise my consultant when I tell her!

Have you raced much this season then?

I have raced the Megavalanche and Sprint DH race this year. Despite a crash in qualifying and dislocating a pinky (other hand) I managed second overall in the Sprint and 2nd in the Mega Masters Category. Trek provided me with a Session 77 with Totem Forks for the race which was absolutely fanatstic for that kind of event! Hoping to do the Megavalanche in the Reunion Islands later in the year!

How was the track?

It was perfect for me really! Very, very fast with lose blown out corners, dust and nothing too technical...Really old school and no big scary jumps! I did not speak to any rider who had a bad thing to say about the track, it was fun from start to finish.Thousand of spectators and a massive natural bowl for the finishing area, the orgainisers in Pra Loup did a fantastic job.

Being a long track though it was tricky to learn and i had a few sleepless nights trying to memorise corners and lines! Nikki from Dert in Morzine was a huge help in keeping me calm and taking my mind off racing -It was her first race and practising with her made me less frantic about what I was doing as quite often busy helping her with lines and tips. Dan Jarvis my team manager was also on hand to keep me calm and make sure I had everything I needed all through the event....A star!

How did you ride?

I gradually increased my speed each practice run, trying to hit different lines through sections at race pace whilst resting on easier sections. there were a few sections I struggled to clean 100% but I kept practising them. In qualifying I was really really nervous, which often happens to me. I rode erratically with two big stops early on in the track. I tried to calm myself and I sat down on the pedally sections as I knew that I could make time up in the race run by pedalling these sections hard. It worked out OK though with fastest time in the 30-40 category with two stops! I was a little concerned about the race as they combined the womans categories into 30-39 and 40 plus, this meant there were more girls in the 30-35 category that I had to beat too.

The race run was awesome, I was far less nervous and after the first few ragged corners I relaxed and pinned it. I made an error on the first stream crossing and hit the pad on a tree, this made me really pedal and from there on down I had a lovely smooth run and had chance to smile and enjoy it! It's a great feeling crossing the line knowing you have had a great run and there are no "But ifs...!"

Did you think you could win?

Hmmm the masters are an unknown quantity really, lots of ex-World Cup riders and unknowns. I had no idea really apart from the Brit girls and a few of the girls I have raced in the past. I thought I had a good chance once I saw the track and how it suited me.I try not to watch the oppostion too much as it tends to play on my mind and worry me unecessarily. Had it been wet things may have been very different! I knew I could medal and once practice started people were saying I was looking fast which always boosts your confidence and the Trek Session 10 was behaving faultlessly!

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Petra, Bex and Nikki from Dert having a coffee in Morzine

What training have you been doing this year?

Well, riding from one coffee shop to another then another. You saw me in the cafe at the top of the Pleney! [We bumped into Petra twice this summer and both times she was at the top of a lift enjoying the view or drinking coffee! - Ed] Seriously though, the weather in the Alps has been appauling and I have not downhilled as much as normal as I hate mud. Due to the odd French Guiding Laws I have also been guiding clients less than normal [Petra worls for Alpine Tracks in Morzine - Ed]. I have ridden alot more XC this year and guided more 'Free ride' orientated groups, and also because my wrist is still quite sore I have been careful to not risk crashing in the wet conditions!. I guess though I am lucky to be based in the Alps and have world class tracks to ride on my doorstep. I'm spoilt! The last few weeks with the Megavalanche and Sprint races I have done a fair bit of race riding, I have been training quite a bit with Nikki from Dert in Morzine as she is just starting out in DH racing and some of the American and Swedish guys based here in Champery on the Swiss side of Portes du Soleil. I have even climbed up to Col du Cou a few times! I guess I get out on my bike most days from June until September.

What's next then?

Next week I have a French Cup in Pra Loup and Swiss Cup in Verbier in September. I am also entered for the last NPS and Cardiff Street Race. We are currently asking the UCI if I am allowed to race the last World Cup in Maribor in September. Then I need my wrist operating on before the Megavalanche in the Reunion Islands. Busy times ahead but now getting my appetite for racing back and don't want it to stop!

Trek, Sram and Bn3 are really pleased with the way things have panned out this year, I would love to carry on racing for them next year with a view to maybe doing a season of World Cups again. I know I am never going to get in the top ten but think I can get top twenty results and maybe act as a manager/mentor for younger riders coming onto the circuit. Who knows? I just hope I can carry on racing and riding and staying fit and healthy for a few more years on the circuit yet

You've been racing for years now, how long has it been?

I have been racing since 1995, I have raced World Cups for 8 seasons and 5 World Championships and 5 European Championships as well as the Winter X Games in the US. I was pretty ill at the end of 2000 and missed almost a year of riding with the World Masters win in Bromont being my first race back! I have full set of Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in Masters Category at National, European and World Championships level, as well as two rainbow jerseys.

How has your riding changed through the years?

Am I sronger now than in my twenties? Yes I think so, I did not start racing until I was 26 after a competitve career in international hockey for England. I guess I trained very hard then but it was different as it was a team sport and you all trained together and it was very socialable but ultra competitve from within the team. Cycling is quite lonely really and you have to be very self motivated (Particularly when you are based in the UK). Being out in the Alps has helped me to train. Given the choice between riding around the Mendips being chased by the Ranger or going up on a chairlift and doing multiple DH runs on the Pleney in the sun; there's no comparison really! Plus all the girlies here are getting quicker and quicker and harder to keep up with! When I was racing World Cups full time I found it hard to DH train in the UK, I wish I had then what I have now for a job!

I cannot thank all my sponsors enough, I have had a number of sponsors for a very long time including Bn3 Sports Management, SRAM, Rock Shox, Buff, Trek Bikes and Extreme Medics. They have all stuck by me and made all the racing over the years possible. My employers Alpine Tracks are also stars giving me the opportunity to ride every day and get away and race whenever I can! I am one of the lucky few who does a job they love that combines a sport they love! I just hope to get back and do some races in the UK again soon.

Roll on the next race and good luck to all the Guys and Girls in Fort William in September....Bring back a few more Rainbow Jerseys for GB! Petra x