The 16-year-old mountain biker, who last September made headlines as the first Channel Islander to join the National School of Racing Foundation programme, will continue his development with training camps commencing next month and running through to March 2027.
The next six months form an important structured development phase within the ODS programme, with Smith undertaking a programme of training, assessment and specific performance objectives designed to support his continued progression towards full-time cycling.
This provides an opportunity for him to work within the ODS environment, gain further experience alongside Britain’s other top youngsters and demonstrate his development against key performance goals.
His selection follows a strong year of international and domestic competition, including finishing the National Cross-Country Series fifth in his category and placing 36th at the UEC Youth European Championships in Romania.
Smith is excited to be going ‘onwards and upwards’ after an enjoyable year on the NSR.
‘I’ll never forget the year I’ve had with the best team and the memories we have made together,’ he said.
‘From meeting each other for the first time as a squad in Cannock to the last time in Romania.
‘We had some of the greatest ups, also some downs but all in all it was simply incredible.’
The ODS training programme will provide the next opportunity for him to build on that progress, with the focus firmly on continued development and preparing for the demands of elite-level mountain biking.
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