Dunstan High School (DHS) student Eddie Adams has reached his next goal of making the New Zealand Under 19 team to race in the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Mountain (MTB) World Championships in Andorra at the end of August.

Eddie said the event had been in his sights for a couple of years and he can’t wait for the opportunity to race against the best in the world wearing the fern.

“A huge thanks to everyone in my corner helping me get to this point and to all the people who supported this trip, I’m now racing at the world champs.”

Eddie has been performing well in his races in Europe; he placed third in the Under 19 men in Copa de España Ciudad del Ciclismo UCI C2 race in Cervera del Maestre, Valencia, Spain at the end of June where he said the course felt like home - “dry, dusty and rocky”. 

His next race was in very different conditions at Vall de Boi, near the top of Spain by the border with France.

“[This] race [was] at an altitude of 1100m above sea level. Unfortunately, the heavens opened the night before race day, resulting in road closures and race delays, but also a very wet and muddy course. I placed sixth . . . and finished strongly.”

In Puy Saint Vincent, a mountain resort in the French Alps, Eddie raced in a huge field of 120 riders, overcoming a bad start and slipping back to 65th after the first climb, to finish 33rd.

“[I was] stuck in the logjam of riders and plenty of walking because of the sheer numbers around me. Once I got riding I spent the next three laps overtaking. 

“I was really pleased with my form in this ride and loved the tough climbs and fast descents. My last three lap times were in the top 20 and so that was really encouraging”.

Eddie has spent the last couple of weeks based in Andorra and training at altitude, catching up on school work, staying in an apartment with another Kiwi cyclist and also enjoying a training ride with Sam Gaze as he prepared for the Olympic Games. 

NZ cross country and road cyclist Sam Gaze (left) and Eddie enjoying a training ride ahead of Sam's preparations for the Olympics. PHOTO: Supplied

There are two more races to tick off before the UCI MTB World Champs cross country (XCO) event; one is in Langendorf, Switzerland and then Les Menuires, in the French Alps. 

“The racing and training to date have been invaluable learning experiences for me as I . . . build on my skills, racing experience and fitness.”

The UCI MTB World Champs XCO event is on in Pal Arinsal, Andorra August 28 to September 1.

Andorra is a small independent principality between France and Spain where people speak Catalan, Spanish, Portuguese and/or French. 

Andorra has hosted pro mountain bike races for many years and has dedicated mountain bike parks for all levels of riders. 

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