GB juniors up for Dalby World Cup challenge

Steve James learned his mountain bike skills in the Royal Forests of Berkshire

Great Britain's junior riders are keen to make an impression when the 2010 Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Cup at Dalby Forest starts on 23 April.

Steve James, Katie Wintonn, Grant Ferguson and Kenta Gallagher are the top four junior riders on the British Cycling 2012 Olympic programme.

"We'll all be looking for a really high result, maybe even a win for one of us," James, 17, told BBC Radio York.

"It's a goal for this year, to get on the podium for that race."

James, from Crowthorne, near Reading, finished an impressive second in the national test race at Dalby Forest last year, which also featured most of his colleagues in the GB Olympic programme.

He added: "It's a fantastic course, it's really varied, really challenging, it will really test your bike riding skills and your fitness."

Kenta Gallagher, 17, from Inverness, said: "I've heard the new World Cup course is a bit changed from last year.

I love it. I wouldn't want to be doing anything else

Steve James

"Weather-wise, I wouldn't mind rain, to be honest, because I come from quite a downhill background where the trails are quite natural."

Grant Ferguson, 16, from Peebles in southern Scotland, added: "It's my first year in this category and my first World Cup, so there will be a lot of learning and experience for future races.

"Last year I was in the under-16 category and I was British champion there and the Scottish champion. When we had the first round of the British (this year) I was second in that."

Ferguson is still at school, while Gallagher left a month ago and James dropped out to pursue his dream.

"I love it. I wouldn't want to be doing anything else. Not a lot of people have a job where they love it and it's their dream job," James added.