The Great Britain Cycling Team kicked off the 2024 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships with a ninth-place finish in the mixed team relay in Andorra, while the downhill junior riders rocked the slopes in the qualifying rounds. 

Mixed team relay 

Max Greensill (under-23 men) fired off the start line to kick off the mixed team relay. Senior starts from the other nations saw Greensill fight to hold his place, before passing on to Innes McDonald (junior men) in 12^th place, one minute behind the leading group of Italy, France and Denmark. 

McDonald continued to hold position, passing onto elite rider Isla Short still in 12^th with three minutes off the leaders. Short remained strong, picking off riders to get into 10^th position and battle on before changing over to junior rider Evie Strachan. Strachan powered on, losing a small time gain before handing on to Ella Maclean-Howell (under-23 women) in 12^th place. 

Maclean-Howell remained strong in 12^th before passing it on to elite rider Charlie Aldridge for the final lap. Aldridge gunned it all the way to the line, storming round berms and tackling the mud with ease. The Scot picked off riders one by one and rode incredibly well to bring the team to a ninth-place finish overall.

Junior downhill qualifying 

Heather Wilson showed her skill as one of the best young riders, qualifying in third place in the junior women’s downhill qualification. Wilson clocked a time of 3:10.227 to qualify third, just behind Swedish rider Ella Svegby and New Zealand favourite Erice van Leuven. 

George Madley was the quickest Brit in the junior men’s downhill qualifying, clocking 2:46.847 to go into the final in 12^th place. Daniel Parfitt came home 24^th, while Oscar Griffiths was 36^th. Rudi Eichhorn qualified 45^th, Will Haines finished 51^st, Billy Pugh was 55^th and Noa Hirst Walker finished 59^th.  

Competition continues tomorrow with the men’s and women’s junior downhill finals and elite downhill qualification races from 10:00 BST.