EXCITING times lay ahead for Upper Beeding cyclist Pete Mitchell as he bids to win a place on the Great Britain Olympic team.
The 22-year-old is just on the outside of a four-man short list for the Olympics as he looks to win a place in the GB team sprint squad.
He said: “Basically, I’ve got four months to get faster than someone else to try to get on the team.
“It’s a big old challenge and time is running out. But, it’s Olympic year and I’m going to give it my all.
“Even if I don’t make the team this year, I’m only 22, so should have at least two more Olympics to come as everyone else in the squad is two or three years older than me and Chris Hoy is 36.
“But this year is going to be like no other. I went to the official launch at the Velodrome in London just over a year ago and went to watch the Cycling World Cup and it’s pretty spectacular venue, so it would be great to be involved.”
Despite having some financial help from UK Sport, it is down to Mitchell to find his own sponsorship.
One such deal recently ended, so Mitchell is now looking to get involved with local companies but is keen to stress that he is not just looking for a “hand-out”.
He said: “I’m the only local rider in Sussex and the only sprinter south of Birmingham and would like to work with a local business, with a sporting culture.
“I’ll put the time in and work for a sponsorship deal – it will be something that’s beneficial for both parties.
“Hopefully, companies will see it as a positive supporting a professional athlete. I can do monthly blogs for their websites, there’s stories I can tell from my time in cycling and I’d attend promotional events when available, so there’s plenty of things I could offer.”
Anyone interested in sponsoring Mitchell, can contact him on contact@petemitchell.co.uk
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