Rainbows decided in the downhill at Masters MTB World Championships

Seven Australians walked away with a rainbow jersey after the downhill finals at the 2025 Masters Mountain Bike World Championships in Cairns today.

Bragging rights went on the line as the temperatures reached 30 degrees in the tropical north and riders were sweating on pulling out a big race run.

After a lengthy delay due to an injury during seeding, officials made the decision to go straight into finals due to the potential loss of light late in the day on course.

The first Australian to notch a win was Kellie Meehan in the Female 55-59, adding to her win at the National Championships earlier in the year.

Italy’s Tiziano Finocchio recorded the first sub 5min result, but it was West Australian Tanya Bailey in the 40-44 who claimed the fastest female time overall.

The Albany rider stopped the clock 4:33:356 in what she described as a scrappy run after messing up in the rock garden.

“Then I slipped a pedal on that first jump after the whoops.

“I just had to grin and bear it and pedal to the line,” she said post-race.

New Zealand and Austrian riders took the first of the male titles in 65+ and 70+ categories before Nicolas Rogley put the home nation back on the top step in the 60-64 age group.

Randall Huntington finally got his rainbow jersey after moving up into the 55-59 category, and was the first rider to break four minutes.

Robert Stone continued to Australian winning flavour in the 50-54 by one-tenth of a second before former professional rider Nathan Rankin claimed the 44-49.

The New Zealander was emotional on his return to the venue he last competed at in 1996 as a junior.

“I haven’t owned a downhill bike for eight years so thought I’d jump on and see what happens so I’m pretty stoked.”

Ryan Leutton on his way to winning the 40-44 category.

It was also a moment for Brisbane’s Ryan Leutton who redeemed himself after finishing second last year in the 40-44.

“Kept a fire in the belly so worked out to be number one.”

Fellow Queenslander Cameron Allonby caused an upset by pipping the defending champion Mitchell Delfs in the final race of the day in the 35-39 category.

Full results can be found here.

Photo Credit: Broken Photography