Rider Profile

Name: Iain Paton 

Primary Club: Ben Wyvis Cycle Club/Dryburgh Cycles

Biography:

I’m an 18 year old mountain biker from Golspie, in the North of Scotland. Now living in the big bad city of Edinburgh where I’m studying Astrophysics at University. I started mountain biking when the amazing Highland Wildcat trails were built on the hill beside my house and I spent most of my free time bombing about on my bike with complete disregard for my own safety. After attending a RSR run by the regional mountain bike coach for my area I was convinced to enter my first XC race the following day which was a round of the Scottish cross country series and somehow ended up finishing 4th. After this I was hooked, and bought myself a racing specific bike. From then on I’ve done every Scottish and British race I’ve been able to get to, and loved riding my bike as much as possible. I’m now part of the Scottish Performance Squad and British Olympic Development Programme racing the Scottish, British and World cup series.

Career Highlinghts to Date:

1st British National series – youth 2011

2nd British National championships – youth 2011

1st Scottish championships – youth 2011

1st Scottish series – youth 2011

1st Scottish Cyclocross Championships – youth 2011

3 Gold medal UK school games - 2011

2nd British series round 3 – Junior 2012

34th UCI world cup round 3 – Junior 2012

62nd UCI world championships – Junior 2012

Who Inspires you and why:

There are so many people, anyone that gives 100% in order to achieve their goals is worthy of being inspirational. In the mountain biking world however riders such as Nino schurter and Marco Fontana are big inspirations to me as they are great all round athletes, so fast and technically good on the bike. Just watch footage from the Olympics and you’ll see countless inspirational athletes!

Follow me on twitter: @iainpaton2

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Iain-Paton/148535421879414?fref=ts

And my soon to be updated blog: http://iainpatonracing.blogspot.co.uk/

Photograph Courtesy of www.bicycles.org.uk.