ALEX Miller, Namibia’s champion junior mountain bike rider left for Europe this week in preparation for the World MTB Championships which take place in Switzerland next month.
The 17-year-old Miller has had a fantastic year during which he has established himself as the top junior mountain bike rider in Africa.
In April he won the gold medal in the junior men’s category at the African Mountain Bike Championships in Egypt in great style, finishing more than four minutes ahead of the second-placed rider, Keegan Bontekoning of South Africa.
He also excelled at the recent African Youth Games in Algiers where he once again won the gold medal against the best juniors on the continent.
Besides that he has won several other titles in Namibia and South Africa this year.
In South Africa he competed in the SA Mountain Bike Cup series, winning three events and coming second once to win the overall junior title.
In Namibia he won the national junior title at the Nedbank MTB National Challenge in February, finishing more than four minutes ahead of second-placed Dieter Koen, and two months later he once again gave a superb performance to win the Nedbank Cross Country Junior Series, beating the second-placed Brendan van Eeden of South Africa by close to 10 minutes.
In June, Miller excelled at senior level when he won two Elite Men’s titles, competing against Namibia’s top senior riders.
On 2 June he won the Windhoek Mountain Bike Marathon, beating national champion Xavier Papo by close to five minutes and three weeks later he once again beat Papo in a sprint to the line to win the Men’s Elite category at the Africa Safari Lodge Mountain Bike Festival.
Miller said his recent success at the Africa Youth Championships in Algeria was an amazing experience.
“It was my first time in Algeria and it was an amazing experience. The track they set out was quite simple, but the climate made it very tough – it was extremely hot with high humidity.
“I think I was not mentally prepared for some of the competitors and due to the easier course they could hang on to us Namibians, but in the end I managed to get away with about a two minute lead,” he said.
Miller now leaves for Europe to compete in some mountain bike events ahead of the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Switzerland from 5 to 9 September and he said he was aiming to finish amongst the top ten junior riders.
“I’m aiming for a top ten placement at the World Championships. If I look at my performances compared to the other top riders in the world this year I think it is possible,” he said.
Miller only started cycling two and a half years ago, but despite his undoubted talent he also trains very hard to reach his goals.
“During the week I train every day and then closer to competitions Ill have some double sessions – one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Then I’ll rest a bit on Mondays and Fridays with a bit of gym and light activation as well,” he said.
Miller, however, was quick to thank others who have contributed to his success.
“I have had great support from my family, my coach and my sponsor, Mannie’s Bike Mecca so that has helped me a lot,” he said.
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