Pedalling in a world champion direction

Evan Guthrie finally has some time to kick back and relax.

The 18-year-old biking whiz kid is back in the Okanagan after his latest success on two wheels.

One of the top junior mountain bikers in Canada and a successful road cyclist, Guthrie recently added a national championship trophy to his ever growing collection.

And in a new sport, of sorts.

Guthrie is the Under-23 Canadian champion in cyclo cross, a sport that sees riders navigating a short course featuring pavement, trails, grass and other obstacles, and requires riders to carry their bikes during portions of the event.

“I think it’s the best spectator cycling sport,” said Guthrie. “It’s fairly new to North America but has been going on lots in Europe. You have to flip your bike up and run whenever you need to.”

It’s no surprise really that Guthrie claimed the national championship for whichever bike he touches seems to turn to gold.

“It was the tail-end of my season,” he said. “I knew I still had some good legs. The biking course was tough because it was snowing. I just tried not to fall and that was likely the key to winning.”

The national title was the icing on the cake for what has been both a busy and successful year for Guthrie.

Just prior to taking part in the Cyclo Cross national championships in Edmonton, Guthrie was in Europe racing in two World Cup mountain bike races, where he placed top five in both events.

Before that it was the Canada Games in Prince Edward Island where he won a medal before flying to Australia to compete in the mountain bike world championships.

It’s no wonder the Peachland native is glad to be home and having a little break in competition.

“I’m taking some time off and resting up,” he said.

The rest is coming months before Guthrie will move up permanently to the Under-23 category and test himself at races against the best riders in the world.

U-23 cyclists start at the same time as the elite riders in bike races, allowing the U-23s to judge themselves against the top riders in the world.

“It’s going to be a big year,” he said. “I’ll be racing against the Olympic champion.”

On Guthrie’s schedule for next year is another trip to Europe with Team Canada as well as road races with Total Restoration early in the year and some Canada Cups and eventually the world mountain bike championships, slated for Quebec.

For Guthrie, the hectic schedule and the chance to keep improving and competing is music to his ears.

“I’m feeling good, it’s taken years to build up to this,” he said.

“I think I can only build from here. Hopefully I can keep stepping it up where I can be the guy in Canada that can go to the Olympics. I’ll be in my 20s for the next three Olympics and I want to be that guy.”

If history is any indication, he’s well on his way. Sponsored by Rocky Mountain Bicycles and Doctor Vie Super Foods, Guthrie credits his success to his family and his local cycling team, Total Restoration.

kparnell@kelownacapnews.com

+More Sports Headlines
<Back to Mobile Edition