Engadine downhill mountain biker Cassie Voysey has a big year ahead as she looks to finish her junior career on top.
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The reigning Oceania and Australian under-19 champion, Voysey was recently voted runner-up in Cycling Australia's Junior MTB rider of the year and was also the National Cup junior female rider for 2019.
Downhill mountain biking is one of the more technical cycling disciplines and is raced all over the world on steep, rough terrain that often features jumps, drops, climbs and obstacles.
After a hard off season of work and constant training, the 18-year-old is looking forward to defending her Australian title in Bright in the Victorian High Country next month.
"It's a good track, it's got everything in it," Cassie said.
"There is a little more pressure being the defending champion and there is another good girl to compete with but my aim this year is to win the World Cup series in my age group."
There are eight World Cup MTB events this year in Portugal, Slovenia, Croatia, Scotland, Andorra, Canada, Italy and France with the UCI MTB DH World Championships being held in Leogang, Austria, so Cassie's passport will need a few extra pages.
There is the overall World Cup champion and individual world title up for grabs so all Cassie's training with her coach in Belrose on the downhill track and at Vision Gym at Engadine, plus her hours of work at Frasers Cycles at Taren Point, should have her ready to compete at her best at the highest level.
Cassie said she was trying to make a real career out of her sport with her aim to be picked up by a pro team which could make it all possible.
"There is a big jump between the juniors and open divisions and a lot more pressure but if I keep trying and competing I will learn a lot more and should be right to compete at the same level," Cassie said before leaving for the Crankworx Mountain Bike event in Rotorua, New Zealand, the first event on the popular Crankworx World Tour.
The Engadine downhill demon than returns to defend her under-19 national crown before leaving the next day for her D-day in round one of the World Cup in Portugal which will hopefully set her on course for a long career on two wheels.