Ballito cyclist wins bronze at UCI mountain bike world championships
The bronze is South Africa's first-ever medal in the Under-23 Women's XCC World Championship category.
Ballito’s Tyler Jacobs (21) made South African cycling history last week with a bronze medal at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Switzerland.
The bronze is South Africa’s first-ever medal in the Under-23 Women’s XCC World Championship category.
The championships, held from August 30 to September 14 across seven Swiss venues including Zermatt, Verbier and Aletsch Arena, brought together the world’s top riders in disciplines ranging from cross-country to downhill, enduro, E-mountain bike and pump track.
On a treacherous course in Crans-Montana, plagued by cold weather and relentless rain, Jacobs delivered a gutsy performance.
Battling through mud and slippery terrain, she crossed the finish line in 20:18, just 26 seconds behind Canadia n gold medallist Isabella Holmgren (19:52) and six seconds behind Germany’s Carla Hahn (20:12), who took silver.
“I am very proud. I have been working hard for it, and it has built my confidence in believing in myself,” said Jacobs, who rides for LIV Factory Racing.
Her journey to the podium has been marked by near misses and moments of self-doubt, making this breakthrough all the more meaningful. Despite the challenging conditions, she remained focused.
“My goal was not to win a medal; my goal was to give it my all. However, I knew I had the potential to get a podium. I have been close a few times this year at the World Cup races, but I never believed it would actually happen at the World Championships.”
Jacobs also competed in the longer Under-23 Women’s XCO World Championship on Sunday, September 14, but was forced to withdraw after suffering multiple crashes.
Originally raised in Kenya before moving to the North Coast, Jacobs is currently en route to Lenzerheide, Switzerland, for the final European leg of the World Cup circuit. She will then head to the USA and Canada for the last two events before returning home.
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