JACK Feltham and Michael Harris jet off to Europe this week to battle it out in the Mountain Bike World Championships.
The 2 Wheel Academy cyclists were selected in the under 19 men’s team and will join fellow Armidale rider Holly Harris for the event on June 28.
With tough hill climbs and muddy terrain expected for the event, both Jack and Michael have been taking advantage of the recent rainfall to hone their skills in order to compete with the world’s best.
“Every time it rains I have been getting out on the bike trying to figure out how to ride in the wet,” Feltham said.
“It should be pretty wild.
“I don’t know what to expect so I am just going to go out and leave it all on the track and race a good race hopefully.”
The boys have already tasted competing on the international stage after travelling to New Zealand for the Oceania Championships earlier in the year but they expect the event in the Czech Republic to be on a whole other level.
“I went over to New Zealand earlier in the year but this one will top that by a lot,” Harris said.
“I watched previous races on the track on television but it looks pretty technical.
“I think all the practice in the pine forest with those tree roots will hold us in good stead.
“The track we are going to is usually pretty muddy.
“It is very exciting.”
Junior mountain bikers looking to follow in the footsteps of these boys have the opportunity to do so when the 2 Wheel Academy host their tryouts from 8am on July 24 at the Piney.
The tryouts are open to athletes between 12 and 18 years.
