World Junior Cross-Country MTB Champion Charlie Aldridge was awarded the Young Sports Personality of the Year at the Sunday Mail Scottish Sports Awards last week.

The Sunday Mail and sportscotland Scottish Sports Awards recognise excellence throughout Scottish sports by awarding sportsmen, women and teams for their outstanding achievements throughout 2019. Despite some tough competition in his category, Charlie took home the Young Sports Personality of the Year prize.

Charlie could not be a more worthy winner, having been crowned the 2019 World Junior Champion in Cross-Country Mountain Bike in Mont-Saint-Anne, Canada back in August. It was the first gold medal and rainbow jersey ever to be won by a British male in the cross-country discipline. Winner of European Youth gold in 2017, Charlie had already made history earlier in this year as he became the first British male to win a UCI Mountain Bike Junior Series event on foreign soil with victory in Germany. He finished 11 seconds clear of the field at the World Championships and after major shoulder surgery last winter his achievement is testament to his character and hard work to get back to fitness.

After the race Aldridge said, “I’m speechless, I know everyone says that but it’s true. I can’t believe it really, it’s fantastic, it’s great!”

What's Next for Charlie?

Following such a successful year, Charlie will continue his committed training into the 2020 season. He is currently out in Girona training with the Great Britain Cycling Team senior academy men's endurance riders on the road. Following this he will do some focused MTB and gym training before heading to his home in Stirling for Christmas. The new year will kick off with some more riding in Girona before building towards early season races.

Scottish Cycling are incredibly proud of Charlie and look forward to supporting him through 2020 and beyond.