There’ll be some hot competition this Sunday (June 16th) at the Pertex 2002 National MTB invitation race as an additional England team place for the Commonwealth Games is up for grabs.

The race, which takes place on the same Rivington Country Park course as the Games is the final selection round for the Commonwealth team.

Liam Killeen is the only rider who has already qualified for the Commonwealth Games, that was on points gained in the national and international qualifying rounds. Other riders hoping to snag the place alongside him in the team this weekend include Nick Craig, Barrie Clarke and Oli Beckingsale. Craig won last weekend’s Checkendon round of the National Mountain Bike Series and is keen to repeat that success this weekend. “Quite simply I need to win this race to get the opportunity to compete in the Games. It’ll be a tough contest, as the top national mountain bikers will all be competing for first place, but as last weekend shows, I’m on top form”, he said.

With riders like Canadian World Champion Roland Green lining up for the Games, whoever qualifies will need to be on their best form ever to stand a chance of placing.