Tilly Boadle has continued Australia’s brilliant campaign at the 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, winning the junior women’s downhill title in Italy on Saturday.
The 17-year-old from the Mornington Peninsula mastered the tricky conditions to claim the rainbow jersey by a commanding margin over her nearest rival.
Boadle qualified second-fastest yesterday, but overnight rain left Val di Sole’s “Black Snake” trail in a treacherous state.
The young Victorian was tenth to start the final out of 20 riders. While her run of 4:13.323 was down on yesterday’s time, it was enough to put Boadle into the hot seat to see, nervously, if it would stand up to the rest of the field.
“I rode it like it was dry, but I was cautious in the places that mattered,” Boadle said of her run.
“It was such a safe, and smart, run. I was so happy with it when I got down. It was difficult conditions today.”
Each challenger came and went, and when the final starter, the USA’s Aletha Ostgaard, fell short by over seven seconds, Boadle’s victory was confirmed.
“There’s such incredible junior girls that came down and I honestly couldn’t watch,” Boadle said.
“Still in disbelief, I don’t think it’s hit me yet.”
Today’s victory is a crowning achievement for young Boadle, who rides with the Red Hill Riders MTB Club in Victoria.
She had started the season promisingly with third place at her first-ever UCI World Cup round in South Korea, but a serious injury forced Boadle to rebuild.
“It’s been a rough start to the season,” she reflected.
“Podium first World Cup, and then a dislocated shoulder. It was rough, but we’ve been building and I think in Les Gets I popped it [the shoulder] in an out. So, I was a bit nervous coming here, but I trusted myself, trusted my body, and it all worked out.”
It’s been a bright week for the future of Australian mountain biking. Boadle’s win is the ARA Australian Cycling Team’s second junior world title of the week, after Connor Wright won the junior men’s XCO race on Thursday.
“I can’t believe it. World champ. I was not expecting this.”
In other Australian results, Zuri Acheson finished 18th, while Matilda Henness was 28th in qualifying yesterday. Rebecca Sams crashed in qualifying and was unable to continue.
In the junior men’s downhill, Rhys Wellings was Australia’s top finisher in 12th place.
Results | Junior Women Downhill – Final
1. Tilly Boadle (AUS)
2. Aletha Ostgaard (USA)
3. Indy Deavoll (NZL)
18. Zuri Acheson (AUS)
Results | Junior Men Downhill – Final
1. Raoul Schneeberger (SUI)
2. Felix Griffiths (GBR)
3. Filippo Gilardino (ITA)
12. Rhys Wellings (AUS)
22. Bryn Couzin (AUS)
28. Byron Best (AUS)
29. Bailey Mills (AUS)
48. Daniel Turkovic (AUS)
Photos: SWpix.com