Teenage Cumbrian Olli Dawson will face the top athletes in the country in 2019 after he came second in the National Mountain Bike Cross-Country Series.
Competing at Builth Wells in Wales, the 19-year-old claimed his third victory in the series in the final round to take the runners-up place this season.
Having secured enough points, Dawson, from Hayton near Carlisle, will move into the elite category next year.
“It was good. I had a good race and it went well. I have raced there before,” said Dawson on Sunday’s win in Wales.
“It [the course] is not technically that hard, but it’s pretty hilly which suits me because I’m a light guy.”
Border City Wheelers’ Dawson also impressed at the National Championships at the Olympic Cross-Country race track in Hadleigh, Essex, in the Under-23 category a fortnight ago.
There, he finished fifth in his first year in the age-group.
Dawson added: “It has been an excellent year and I’ve been pretty happy with it.
"Next year, I will be in a team. I will still be with Border City Wheelers but they will be my secondary team.”
He has also secured a sponsorship deal with Polaris Bikewear, a well-established Sheffield-based cycling clothing brand.
“Any support, really, is always helpful,” Dawson said.
“When you are travelling, saving money is always useful.”
Cycling plays a huge part in his life, with Dawson also working for Palace Cycles in Carlisle’s Botchergate.
“They have always helped me out,” he said.
“I currently work part-time and I have a good arrangement with them.”
Dawson has always primarily focused on mountain biking.
But he added: “I have only done road racing twice. But I will see what opportunities there are.”
Meanwhile, asked what his plans were for the rest of the year, he said: “I might do a Scottish race towards the end of the year, just to do a race.
“But my placing is good enough to get into the category already.”
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