AFTER two years competing in downhill mountain biking at the Junior Men’s level, local Mitchell Delfs has come one step closer to his goal of representing Australia in 2009 in the Elite Men’s division.
He was selected for the team of eight to ride at the World Championships in Italy, June 2008.
Being the youngest member of the team, Mitchell hopes to make the top 20 this year.
Last year he had experience in a couple of World Cups before the World Championships in Scotland, where by 36 hundredths of a second Mitchell achieved fourth behind Scotland, NZ and the US.
Mitch was awarded the Cycling Australia Sports Cover Junior Mountain Biker of the year and Emerging Regional Sports Star along with a Healthways Country Sports Scholarship.
The end of the year saw him invited to ride for International Team Kenda Tomac with fellow rider from Slovakia, Filip Polc.
Their itinerary includes all World Cups and world championships as well as selected major races.
Since April Mitchell has ridden in Monaco, France, Poland, Slovenia, Portugal, US, Andorra and Scotland.
Currently in Amsterdam, he will “chill” before going on to Germany to compete in the Wheels of Speed Race and then Italy for the world championships, followed by Canada, Canberra in August and then to Austria.
He says competing at this level has been an eye opener, seeing what riders do to be prepared for each race, their training techniques and the support they receive.
He still enjoys his time at home, riding with local talents Shane, Hans and other friends who help him raise his fitness level in order to survive the season away.
Mitchell has achieved times putting him in the 20s, so he feels he is on the right track.
All riders need 20 international points from various racers around the world before allowed to race in a World Cup, and then up to 300 riders can attempt to qualify for the top 80 who go on the ride in the final.
Mitchell has again been fortunate enough to receive a Healthways Smarter than Smoking Country Sports Scholarship for 2008 to help with extra costs.
He wholeheartedly thanks all those in the community who have assisted with support in the past two years.