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.”