Jindabyne locals and promising talents Zac Bradley-Hudson and Tilly Henness are set to showcase their downhill mountain biking skills on the world stage as part of the AusCycling Junior Downhill Mountain Bike Squad. Both athletes will compete at the 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Valais, Switzerland. Competition for the downhill discipline kicks-off in Champéry today, Friday September 5, with qualifying runs for both men’s and women’s categories scheduled for 11am Central European Time.
PHOTO: Zac Bradley-Hudson (left) Tilly Henness (right) are set-to represent Australia.
Bradley-Hudson who started his journey at the Jindabyne Cycling Club, comes into the Championships on the back of solid performances this season, achieving two top 10 finishes at UCI Mountain Bike World Cup races in 2025.
Reflecting on his Australian selection, Bradley-Hudson said, “Being selected for the Australian junior downhill team for the World Championships in Champéry means a lot to me and I am super proud to be able to represent my country on the world stage.”
PHOTO: Zac Bradley-Hudson.
Bradley-Hudson credits Snowy Mountains based Team High Country MTB for playing a crucial role in his development, from physical training to providing the opportunity to compete internationally. “Team High Country has played a huge part in getting me to where I am now. From getting me to work and the gym all through the off season to travelling around Europe for 6 months chasing the mountain biking dream.”
PHOTO: Bradley-Hudson ‘dialled in’ for World Championships in Champéry.
“A big focus for me heading into the World championships has just been bike time, getting as much riding in as possible mixed in with some gym. It’s been amazing to train and live in Morzine during the break this year to dial in my riding for the rest of the season.”
Meanwhile, Henness, a recent Oceania Mountain Bike Championships silver medalist, who found her roots with the Jindabyne Trail Stewardship, expressed her excitement at representing Australia.
“It honestly means so much. It’s something I’ve been working towards for a long time, so to be selected is pretty surreal. Coming from a small town like Jindabyne, it feels even more special,” shared Henness.
PHOTO: Tilly Henness CREDIT: Raw Racing Team
Henness, who joined Raw Racing earlier this year, appreciates the support from her team and community, which has been instrumental in her journey. “Raw Racing is a privateer team that supports a small group of Australian downhill riders. I joined Raw at the start of this year, and it’s honestly been a huge part of my journey since then,” she noted.
Reflecting on her Australian selection, Henness said, “I think what’s helped is just staying consistent, being open to learning from every race — whether it went well or not — and surrounding myself with good people. Having a supportive community in Jindabyne, along with my family and coaches, has been a big part of it.
“I’ve also had the chance to race internationally over the last few years, which has helped me develop a lot. I just want to bring my best to that week, enjoy the experience, and do everything I can to make Australia proud.”
PHOTO: Henness set-to ‘bring best’ at UCI World Championship in Champéry.
With the World Championships track in Champéry renowned for its steep and challenging terrain, both Bradley and Henness have been focussing on maintaining their training regimen and honing their skills ahead of the action. As the competition unfolds, the hopes of the Snowy Mountains and the broader Australian mountain biking community are firmly behind these young riders.