Blewbury A-level student Jordi Hart was selected to join the national team for the UCI Downhill World Cup at Fort William, Scotland, on 21st-22nd May, despite not living near any mountains!
Unfortunately, the event was something of a washout – literally! The weather went from very bad to cataclysmic, which left all the riders sitting in the wind and rain at the top of the mountain for about an hour. Many riders, including Jordi, also had to repeat their race following a big crash by a rider from the USA. In the end, an exhausted Jordi finished 33rd out of 60. Still, this is what downhill mountain biking is all about! It is an extreme sport that requires immense skill and precision, as well as no fear.
Jordi has shown he has what it takes: he started racing bicycles at the age of 6 in the form of BMX racing. He was selected to race for Great Britain at the age of 7 at the World BMX Championships, and by the time he was 11 he had received financial support from Blewbury’s Tony Loy Trust to help develop his talent. At 13, he changed sports to Mountain Biking and quickly excelled. However, not all was straightforward for him: two years later, he suffered from Osgood Schlatter disease which affected his ability to train and ride bikes for long stints. But in 2022, with his knees getting better, he made a podium in his first race.
Next up in Jordi’s ring calendar: the British National in Llangollen, Wales, and then the UCI IXS European Downhill Cup in Austria.
After attending Blewbury pre-school and primary school, Jordi now studies at the Downs School in Compton and has a keen interest in Aerospace Engineering. He is fully funded by his parents, therefore any support is welcome. Just call me on 07795 807243 or email me at ebaracing@gmail.com. Gareth Hart
