After their race on Sunday afternoon at Abriachan, I managed to get a word with two of our promising Junior riders, Iain Paton and Stuart Wilcox. They'd just spent an hour being best of enemies on the race track, but were inseparable after the finish line.
These two young lads are great hoped for the future of Scottish mountain biking, and are exciting to watch out on the course, making it all look far too easy!
Both boys are in their first year at university, however, as yet seem to be resisting too much wild partying to focus on training. Long may that continue!
Thank you for your time boys, it was great to chat and find out about your racing. All the best to both of you for the rest of the season and your continued success in cycling.
IAIN:
How did you get on in
the race today and what did you think of the course?
I was 1st junior in the race today, I’m really
happy with that. It was a really good day on, and especially as it was on a
fairly local course. It was a really good course, a lot like what I remember
the SXC courses to be like from when I started racing. There was really good,
muddy, technical terrain. As juniors we were only doing three laps, whereas the
Elite’s were doing five, maybe they had it a bit harder but ours was definitely
more intense!
How is your training
going in 2013?
Yeah, it’s going really good. I’m just back from a training
camp in Manchester with ODP (Olympic
Development Programme – a highly commendable feat to achieve selection for this
programme). It’s really hard work to be part of the ODP, but that’s what
you’d expect from a programme that is deigned to push you to your limits and to
develop you to your full potential as a cyclist. The last few weeks my training
has been a bit on and off, but with the camp last week it has increased. On the
camp we were doing three training sessions a day – once on the turbo, a road
ride, and a mountain bike ride.
It’s quite difficult to balance studying at university with
my training, as both require a lot of time and dedication. It really makes me
appreciate how easy it was before when I was at school.
What are your aims for
2013?
I am to get onto the podium at the British National series
races. This will hopefully lead to me gaining selection for the Junior World
Cups, and ultimately the Junior World Championships. I raced the 2012 Junior
World Championships and it was a great experience. I was gridded 104th(!)
which made it quite challenging, but it was a really good learning experience
as a junior.
Who do you ride for
and what bike do you race?
I’m currently riding for
the local club here, Ben Wyvis CC. They’re a really great club, and are well
supported by Dryburgh Bicycles in Dingwall. I ride a new Forme bike, it’s a
29’er and was perfectly suited to that type of course!
STUART:
How did you enjoy
today? How did you get on in the race?
I got 2nd placed junior today, only 30seconds
behind Iain. It was a very good race on an “old skool” SXC course with a great
mix of natural, technical sections and man–made climbs. It was the kind of
course that I really enjoy racing my bike on.
How’s the 2013 race season going for you and what do you hope to
achieve this year?
I’ve been progressing well since the start of the year and
I’m looking forward to getting even closer to Iain at the next race down at
Cornwall. My biggest goal for 2013 is the British Championships, as they are at
Cathkin Braes in Glasgow. I stay in Glasgow for university so it’s become my
local course so I have no excuse not to know it like the back of my hand. It’s
a really great course up there, I’m so impressed with what they have done with
it. I’d also hope to gain selection for the Junior World Cups and, hopefully,
the Junior World Championships.
It’s quite difficult to balance the demands of training,
racing and Uni work this year. I am managing to keep up with it though and it
helps me to focus my training.
I’m really appreciative to Scott UK for all their support
this year, it’s fantastic to have their backing for 2013.
 |
| Iain, Stuart and Liam on the Junior Podium |
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