George Amor-Hughes is an U16 rider racing for Beeston Cycling Club competing at regional and national road and track events.

George has always been very sporty, trying his hand at most sports with success, but he learnt to ride without stabilisers at the age of 3, although it wasn’t until he was 9, that he got the opportunity to ride regularly.

Swimming, lots of cycling and running

In the summer of 2014, fellow competitor and DMRC club member Samuel Thomas, introduced George to the Derby Mercury weekly Go-ride sessions and George was totally hooked, telling his Mum “I think I’m addicted to cycling!”.

In the Autumn of 2015 Ben and Sam Marsh introduced George to 4Life Triathlon club. George went on to represent 4Life regionally, nationally and internationally and he joined their Youth Training Academy in 2016. It was during the 2018 Chateau de Chantilly Triathlon, George really had to dig deep; he was one of the first out of the water but  suffered a stuck wetsuit zip issue and could only watch his competitors pass him. When he finally reached his bike there was no stopping him… overtaking all but one rider, maintaining his position through the final transition and run section, he amazingly finished 2nd in his age category, showing true grit and determination.

During his triathlon years, George was known to compete at a cyclocross race in the morning and a triathlon in the afternoon, but cycling took precedence and so in 2019 he bid a fond farewell to 4Life to continue his passion for cycling.

Cutting his teeth and winning many competitions

In the world of DMRC, George was cutting his teeth competing at the Notts & Derby U12 CX league. His second full season in the league, 2016/17, could have gone any of four ways, but after a nail biting final event at Chetwynd Barracks, 2nd place was enough for George to secure his first league win.

In 2017 George represented Mercury with pride, regionally, nationally and internationally, obtaining his UCI number when racing in blue and white at the Assen Youth Tours of 2018 & 2019 and donning the East Midlands jersey for the 2019 UEC MTB Youth European Mountain Bike Championships in Pila, Italy. Winning the 2019 U14 Regional CX Championships, U14 Regional Circuit Championships, and the NDCXL U16 League, George was proud to be awarded the DMRC 2019 Junior Road Race Winner Trophy.

During 2019, George became aware that whilst there were lots of members of Derby Mercury at off-road events, there were rarely any at road & track events, and he saw lots of his friends, from clubs up and down the country, being championed as they joined various teams.

Racing for two great clubs

Invited to take part in the British Cycling Regional School of Racing for MTB, Track and Road, it was at his first Manchester Track RSR that George became aware that Beeston CC Youth Team were working with double Olympic medalist Bryan Steel on their youth development program. He made contact with John McCay chair of BCC and Bryan and went for a trial and knowing all the BCC riders he was instantly at ease and liked what he saw.

In December 2019, both chairs of DMRC and Beeston and British Cycling, agreed that George could race for both clubs, representing BCC as first claim in Track, Road & Circuit events and DMRC as second claim for XC MTB and CX. It was important for George to remain an active and loyal member of DMRC, as he would not be the rider he is today without them. George and Mum, are grateful for the continued support they receive from all their cycling friends.

Striving towards his burning ambition

Whilst the Coronavirus Pandemic has put pain to this years original training and race plans, with the continuing help and support of BCC, DMRC, their respective chairs, coaches, team mates, the Bryan Steel Academy and British Cycling, it is very much hoped that George will continue to develop and strive towards his ambition of becoming a professional cyclist.

George and his BCC team mates remain very positive and their training programmes will enable them to seize successes when racing starts again.

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