Mountain Bike World Championships Selection.
I'm excited to share that I have been selected to represent Great Britain at the 2023 XCM World Championships! I feel like my “story” is one of rediscovery, perseverance, and the joy of returning to the sport I love.
To be honest, back in 2021, the idea of racing at the Elite World Championships seemed like a dream. After all, I only did my first XCM race that year, and had only been back “training” 12 months prior. What began as a way to reconnect with the trails and the thrill of riding, turned into a pursuit of personal progression, and seeing how far this journey could take me.
Full disclosure, I have had my fair share of mountain biking experiences before my hiatus. As a Junior and U23 racer, I raced at a fairly high level, but life had other plans for me; and at 22 I had to step away from the sport, due to mental health issues. It was a total of 13 long years before I rode a mountain bike again!! During that time, I watched the mountain biking world evolve from a distance, with bike designs, course lengths (and technicality) change massively!
When I finally decided to come back to the sport I cherished, I was greeted by a whole new landscape. The bikes had changed drastically- front suspension was bigger, bikes had larger wheels, wider tyres, wider rims, and bars! Gears had batteries, there was only 1 chain-ring and stems were non-existent, oh and of course dropper posts were now a thing! I was a bit overwhelmed, and I’ll never forget the first time I rode a “new” bike, thinking it felt like a tractor- so high, with huge wheels; where was my trusty 26 inch hardtail!!
The journey back wasn't without its ups and downs. There were moments when I doubted my decision to return to competitive racing (mainly when getting my head kicked in by local Spanish women)! But the trails have a way of working their magic on us – they bring out the best in us, push us to our limits, and ignite a fire within that can't be extinguished.
I feel for the most part I embraced the learning curve (and still do). It has very much been like reconnecting with an old friend – the thrill of speeding downhill, the adrenaline rush of tackling technical sections, in a way it felt like I was coming home. With every ride, I soaked up knowledge, learned about the latest trends, and experimented with different setups to find what worked best for me. It wasn't just about getting faster and stronger – it was about falling in love with the bike again, and savouring every moment of adventure, and freedom.
Every now and then it’s important to stop and look back at how far you’ve come, if only to give yourself the confidence to take the next step. This year I feel like I’ve started to push forwards, and build upon the foundation I’ve created over the last couple of years. My body has the capacity to do more training without picking up injuries, and mentally I’m totally at peace with my level, and realistically what I can achieve.
Racing in a home World Championships is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience; I’m looking forward to racing it with an open mind. I know the competition will be crazy fierce, and the trails will test my skills (from dusty rocks in Spain to mud and roots in Scotland). I’m really going to embrace this experience, and carry with me the spirit of every “older” rider who has faced obstacles and emerged stronger, who is perhaps returning to a childhood passion which life momentarily took them away from.
So, here's to accepting change, taking risks, and following our passions with all our hearts. I am grateful for every twist and turn that led me back to the trails, and I can't wait to represent Great Britain at the 2023 Mountain Bike XCM World Championships.