Australian Juniors Ready To Tackle Europe

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Six of Australia’s up and coming cross-country junior athletes have been selected for the 2023 MTB European Camp as part of the Australian Cycling Team pathway initiatives.

It’s the second year the AusCycling pathways program, which gives riders an experience of travelling to and competing at major international events, has been held.

The athletes will compete at two Hors Category (HC) races in Switzerland and the Czech Republic as well as a round of the World Cup in Nove Mesto which is partis part of the UCI Junior Series.

Cohen Jessen and Jack Ward will make their second trip as part of the pathways project.

“Hoping to get racing again in those bigger and fields and thanks to AusCycling again for the opportunity,” Jessen said after he claimed the Oceania Junior title recently.

“The opportunity to race against the Euro’s and improve your race experience is important and to make sure you are prepared travelling each weekend to a new place,” commented the current Australian junior champion, Jack Ward.

Jack Ward

However, a number of the riders will be making their overseas debut.

“It’s been a dream of mine to grab the green and gold kit and race for Australia overseas and I’m stoked for that to finally come true “, said Harry Doye who finished with the silver at the Oceania MTB Championships.

"Going to be great to have a great bunch of boys to go with at a similar age and similarly high level of racing. It betters us as riders as well as the mountain bike community”, Eddie Willis

While it will be Ruby Dobson’s first year in the camp, she has competed at international level before at the 2022 UCI MTB World Championships.

Ruby Dobson

“It takes a lot of mental strength cause we usually are at the back so making our way forward in juniors this camp is such a great opportunity and like Worlds,I want to relish the experience more than the result to learn to be independent and have that race support from AusCycling.

AusCycling’s MTB Pathways and Operations Manager said the the camp is an important step in the rider’s progression towards National Team representation.

“Travelling to Europe is the next step in these rider’s development having raced National Series events this summer and, in most cases, having been part of various MTB Academy camps over the last 12 months”.

Selected Athletes

Ruby Dobson
Levi Dougherty
Harry Doye
Cohen Jessen
Jack Ward
Eddie Willis

XCO Events

  1. Chur, Ökk Bike Revolution, Switzerland (HC) - 7 May
  2. Nove Mesto World Cup, Czech Republic (WC & JWS) - 14 May
  3. Czech Cup, Zadov (HC) - 20 May

The team will be supported by AusCycling MTB Pathways Manager Evan James and respected XCO coach Donna Dall during the three-week competition window.

The team will leave Australia on 30 April and return 23 May.

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