News: Lewis Buchanan takes Bronze in Junior Downhill World Championships

Lewis Buchanan topped off an excellent season in the World Cup Series by taking third at the World Championships in Mont St Anne, Canada on Sunday. Riding for Great Britain as part of an all Scottish junior men's squad Lewis blasted down the course-that had changed overnight due to heavy rain-to a fantastic third place which is a fantastic performance for a first year junior. After his ride Lewis revealed that he had lost some time when he bent his pedal in a rock on course.

Also racing the men's junior event was European Downhill Champion Sam Flockhart. Sam had been training well on the course all week. Sam finished a strong 25th and rounded off an excellent first year in the junior ranks.

Mark Scott was involved in an unfortunate accident in timed training and broke his wrist during one of the first days of the world championships. Mark is a first year junior, everyone at Scottish Cycling wish him a speedy recovery and are sure that he will build on the excellent results he achieved at World Cups in 2010.

Lewis's medal was the first world championship success for Scottish Cycling's Downhill Academy since Ruaridh Cunningham won the junior title in 2007.

Ruaridh Cunningham was the only Scottish Athlete in the Elite race for Great Britain and he showed his class to ride to 19th. Ruaridh revealed that a top 20 ride was his goal for the season and shows the rider from Stow is adapting well to elite competition.

Chris Ball, Scottish Cycling's National Downhill Coach was at the world championships. He said: "Lewis's bronze is an awesome result, well done to all the lads who competed and I know we will be back next year with medals in mind"

In the Cross Country events Grant Ferguson rode to an excellent 15th as a first year junior in the cross country race. In hot conditions the course was unrelenting and served as a steep learning curve for the young rider from Peebles. Kenta Gallagher rode to a strong 35th and has had an excellent season in the junior World Cup series this year. Both riders are now looking forward to some well deserved time off before moving into the cyclo-cross season.