Words: Rachel Baxter | TFR Team Operations Manager

Transition Factory Racing touched down in Glasgow early last week and journeyed through the Scottish Highlands to the legendary town of Fort William. Known for its technicality and physical demands, teammates Valentina Roa Sanchez and Matilda “Tilly” Melton, tackled one of the most challenging tracks in downhill history for their debut race of the 2024 World Cup Season.

This iconic course has been a fixture on the circuit for decades, however underwent significant route and length changes since last year, making it the fastest it has ever been.

This weekend marked several firsts for our team. Both Valentina and Tilly navigated the complexities of a new track. Valentina moved up to the Elite category this year after ending the 2023 season holding the overall Junior title. This is Tilly's first season racing World Cups as a junior.

Valentina’s first year as an Elite rider brings immense pressure, understandably. Her practice ran smoothly, her bike felt good, and she held competitive speeds during timed training. On her qualifying race, Valentina went off track in the 3rd corner and unfortunately didn’t make the cut for semi-finals. Despite not qualifying, Valentina turned around and helped her teammate out in finals, embracing the learning experiences that the weekend offered.

Tilly also felt smooth in practice and checked off all of the big features her first day on track. She acclimated and felt comfortable on the track quickly during practice and placed 5th in her qualifying race. Despite not feeling like it was her best run, Tilly delivered an impressive performance in finals clinching 4th and we couldn’t be prouder! We are so excited for the next round!

The weekend had its highs and lows, but it reinforced the strength and unity of our team. As we prepare for the next round, we are more determined than ever to keep working and tackle new challenges for DHI #2 in Poland!

Nice work to the whole TFR team on Round 1! Be sure to follow their page for play by play updates and all the light hearted times in-between racing on the world stage.

Video | Nick Robertson

Photos | Jack Rice