Source: Adventure Media Group
Just over seven seconds back in second-place, the Maxxis-Rocky Mountain rider said it was "nice to share the podium with her today". And it certainly looked it with third-placed Emmeline Ragot, also of France, joining in the champagne-soaked celebrations with Moseley.
"I prefer to be number one, but it was not to be today," offers Jonnier with a smile. After dry conditions through the week the Mont-Sainte-Anne venue was hit with rain through Saturday. The rain became intermittent through the night and on race day making conditions very challenging.
"My race run was very hard. The long first flat was really boggy and all the berms were destroyed by all the riders in the mud," recalls Jonnier.
"I gave it everything I had today. I wanted to win so badly today, but Tracy was definitely stronger than me - she has been very strong all week. I knew she would be hard to beat today, so I am still happy," she laughs.
Jonnier and Moseley have been racing each other for their entire careers.
"Tracy has been one of my main competitors for so many years. She is two years older than me, so we kind of started together. I have two elite World Champ titles and she has not had one, but she has always been second or third and has just had bad luck on the day, so I was very happy for Tracy today," explains Jonnier.
"Tracy does not like the Champery track [location for the 2011 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships] and so she knew she had to win this year at Mont-Sainte-Anne if she was to win a World Championship and so she made that happen this year." Jonnier described the 2010 World Championship track as the best she had ever ridden at Mont-Sainte-Anne.
"It was better in the dry - I really enjoyed myself during the week in the practice. They had done a lot of work and it was a fast track. On Thursday in the speed trap I was 61kmh and the boys were 62kmh," Jonnier laughs.
With her former teammate Sam Hill, of Australia, taking out the Men's downhill title, Jonnier was disappointed she hadn't been able to emulate the feat.
"I was a bit disappointed in myself because Sam and I won our first two World Championships together in 2006 and 2007, so with him winning today and not me I was a bit disappointed - it would have bee so awesome to have also won today. He did so well - he came back from an injury and hasn't ridden much at all, but today he just had an amazing run as usual," she smiles.
Jonnier also expressed gratitude to a few other riders who had helped her World Championship campaign.
"My mate, Steve Smith, who I rode with a lot in practice, finished second today, which was great. I had been riding with Troy Brosnan in practice as well and he had been helping me a lot this week showing me some good lines and speed, so it was good to see him win the Junior Men's. I would like to thank Troy and Stevie for helping me out this weekend," she shares.
Jonnier also attributed her speed to the work the French team had put into its build-up, and was not surprised to see France win the Nations title.
The UCI Mountain Bike World Championship is the final race of the 2010 season for most racers. Jonnier reflects on her year.
"I am proud of myself. I didn't start the season very well in Maribor. I was kind of struggling with myself and my head, but I won two World Cups, I won the overall, I am national champion and I am second in the world today, so I can say that I have had another great season," she smiles.
Jonnier will now enjoy a break before she turns her attention to the 2011 season when her training resumes in November.
"It is holiday time now and I am going to meet my best friend from Australia in America tomorrow. Next week we are going to go to Utah for a scrapbooking show, so I am just going to focus on being artistic now," she shares.
"I just want to enjoy my World Cup overall and my second in the world today."
Jonnier will return to the Maxxis-Rocky Mountain team for 2011.
