On 6th September 8 youth and junior riders from South West clubs and 4 club coaches joined SC MTB coach Paul Newnham and regional development officer Fiona Walker for the first MTB R.A.C.E session at Mabie.

The R.A.C.E.  (Regional academy of Cycling Education) programme is a regionally based performance development programme, primarily aimed at youth and junior category riders being delivered in each of the five new SC regions.

The morning started off with a video: 

Then the riders headed out to practice their slow speed skills.  

After lunch the riders had a workshop.  They watched another video and then discussed the skills and components of fitness required for MTB racing.

Team Scotland commonwealth games rider, Gareth Montgomorie, gave the riders an insight into being an elite XC racer, then it was back out to the trails for some more coaching, finishing off with a team relay race.