Scott Bowden back on the big wheels at National Championships

After nearly seven years away from the discipline Scott Bowden makes his return to the mountain bike National Championships in Thredbo.

The last time the mountain bike community saw the Tasmaninan at a National Championship he was standing top of the podium in Bright after winning a second straight Under 23 Mens XCO title.

That same year Bowden would go on to compete as part of the Australian Road team at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

And it was there he stayed until last year where he returned back home to Australia, specifically Tasmania to study and work and reignite his love of cross-country,

"Now back to the roots, mountain biking," he said after taking part in the recent XC National Series in Canberra.

"I had two goals for the weekend one was to finish on the lead lap the other was to beat my start number of 12.

"Managed to do both of those and probably exceed my expectations a little bit."

But the 27 year old is not taking his first hit-out and top 10 placing too much fror granted as he prepares to line up for the XCO and XCC races at Thredbo in just over a weeks time.

"I was under no illusion of the level of the Aussie XCO scene, I had pure and utmost respect for the guys out there."

"That was the point of coming to the Canberra round thought it would be a little bit ambitious to do my first cross-country mountain bike race in six and a half years at the national champs."

"Thredbo is an iconic venue for Australian mountain biking so it will be awesome to go back and be part of the atmosphere."

You can view the full schedule for the 2023 AusCycling Mountain Bike National Championships here.

Photo Credit: HIXIT