Ainsworth fury at GB selectors
Thursday, 10th June 1999.
MOUNTAIN bike rider Nick Ainsworth has hit out at the British Cycling Federation after discovering they will not take Masters riders to the World Championships in Canada this autumn.
Ainsworth, 31, from Great Wratting, near Haverhill, leads the national points table and is continuing to notch up decisive wins. His whole season has been based on finishing as one of the top-five riders to be selected for the world championships. Now he has discovered that the format has been changed and he must find his own sponsorship to get to Canada.
"I only found by chance when I spoke to someone from the Federation at an event in Plymouth," said Ainsworth. "I feel that it is a right kick in the teeth for me. It makes you wonder why you bother trying to get to the top of your class to be selected for bigger and better events worldwide, then you are being stopped by the men in suits of the BCF."
"I was not very impressed at all with the news. It means that I will have to find a lot of extra sponsorship to go out there as an individual, after they said at the begining of the year they would take the top five riders."
His latest event on Sunday was the third round of the Eastern Region Mountain Bike Series, which he won by two minutes and was the fastest rider in the three-lap categories.
He was particularly pleased with his performances after two weeks out with a sinus infection which forced him to withdraw from an earlier event after half a lap. He had previously finished second in the Diesel World Cup in Plymouth, despite it being 28 miles, not the usual 18 to 20 miles. He led from the gun until the last three miles, but then lost his energy and barely crawled home.
He takes part in round three of the national points series in Wales this weekend and is hoping to retain his form. Anyone who can help him with sponsorship can ring 01440 783435.
Ainsworth, 31, from Great Wratting, near Haverhill, leads the national points table and is continuing to notch up decisive wins. His whole season has been based on finishing as one of the top-five riders to be selected for the world championships. Now he has discovered that the format has been changed and he must find his own sponsorship to get to Canada.
"I only found by chance when I spoke to someone from the Federation at an event in Plymouth," said Ainsworth. "I feel that it is a right kick in the teeth for me. It makes you wonder why you bother trying to get to the top of your class to be selected for bigger and better events worldwide, then you are being stopped by the men in suits of the BCF."
"I was not very impressed at all with the news. It means that I will have to find a lot of extra sponsorship to go out there as an individual, after they said at the begining of the year they would take the top five riders."
His latest event on Sunday was the third round of the Eastern Region Mountain Bike Series, which he won by two minutes and was the fastest rider in the three-lap categories.
He was particularly pleased with his performances after two weeks out with a sinus infection which forced him to withdraw from an earlier event after half a lap. He had previously finished second in the Diesel World Cup in Plymouth, despite it being 28 miles, not the usual 18 to 20 miles. He led from the gun until the last three miles, but then lost his energy and barely crawled home.
He takes part in round three of the national points series in Wales this weekend and is hoping to retain his form. Anyone who can help him with sponsorship can ring 01440 783435.
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